Small nucleolar RNA host gene 8 (SNHG8)

Small nucleolar RNA host gene 8 (SNHG8) is a long intergenic non-coding RNA gene located on chromosome 4q26. It is widely expressed in neural and other tissues, and functions primarily as a regulator of RNA processing, stress responses, and protein activity. SNHG8 interacts with key RNA-binding proteins involved in the formation of stress granules—in particular, it binds to tau protein and TIA1, modulating neurodegenerative processes in tauopathies. It also regulates cell proliferation, inflammation, and apoptosis through ceRNA mechanisms that sponge specific microRNAs, affecting signaling pathways like NF-κB and SIRT1/HIF-1α. SNHG8 is implicated as a biomarker for several diseases and is a promising target for future RNA-based therapies.

Other names

NCRNA00060LINC00060non-protein coding RNA 60long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 60small nucleolar RNA host gene (non-protein coding) 8SNHG8

In preclinical studies, modulation (upregulation/restoration) of SNHG8 expression can suppress stress granule formation and protein aggregation in tauopathies. Regulation of inflammatory response and cardiac apoptosis via a ceRNA (competing endogenous RNA) mechanism, sponging specific microRNAs (e.g., miR-34b-5p, miR-425-5p). Antisense or RNA-based therapies proposed for cancer and neurodegeneration.