LncRNA RP11‐670E13.6 Regulates Cell Cycle Progression in UVB Damaged Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Abstract Long noncoding RNA s (lnc RNA s) have gained extensive attention in recent years, however, their effects on ultraviolet ( UV ) radiation‐induced skin photodamage remain to be elucidated. In this study, we performed high‐throughput RNA sequencing and comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to characterize the transcriptome profiles including lnc RNA s and mRNA s in UVB ‐irradiated primary human dermal fibroblasts ( HDF s) and to explore the roles of lnc RNA s in photoaging. Quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed to verify the differentially expressed genes. We subsequently found that knocking down of RP 11‐670E13.6, an up‐regulated lnc RNA in UVB ‐irradiated HDF s, promoted a robust senescence phenotype, including increased numbers of the senescence‐associated β ‐galactosidase‐positive cells, decreased cell proliferation, accumulation of cells in G0/G1 phase and a characteristic gene expression signature of senescent cells. In addition, Western blot analysis showed that knocking down of RP 11‐670E13.6 activated the p16‐ pRB senescence pathway independent of the p53‐p21 pathway. Therefore, we propose that RP 11‐670E13.6 may delay cellular senescence in UVB damaged HDF s through the p16‐ pRB pathway.