Circ_0000388 Exerts Oncogenic Function in Cervical Cancer Cells by Regulating miR-337-3p/TCF12 Axis.

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are recently identified as important gene regulators with critical roles in cancer biology. In this study, we explored the effects of circ_0000388 on the malignant phenotypes of CC cells and its mechanism. Materials and Methods: Circ_0000388 expression and miR-337-3p expression in CC tissue samples were measured using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. CCK-8 was adopted to assess the effect of circ_0000388 on CC cell line proliferation. TUNEL assay was employed to probe the effect of circ_0000388 on apoptosis. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were conducted to detect the effect of circ_0000388 on migration and invasion. Further, interaction among circ_0000388, miR-337-3p, and TCF12 (transcription factor 12) was determined by bioinformatics analysis, RT-PCR, Western blot, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, and luciferase reporter assay. Results: Circ_0000388 expression in CC clinical samples was upregulated and this was correlated with unfavorable pathological indexes. Circ_0000388 remarkably enhanced the proliferation and metastasis of CC cells. Circ_0000388 overexpression dramatically impeded miR-337-3p expression and it was identified as a sponge of miR-337-3p. Furthermore, circ_00003888 also enhanced the TCF12 expression, while the effect could be reversed by co-transfection with miR-377-3p. Conclusions: Circ_0000388 was a novel oncogenic circRNA in CC, and promoted cancer progression via regulating miR-337-3p and TCF12, and could be potentially used as a diagnostic biomarker and therapy target.

• Authors: Qing-Hua Meng, Ying Li, Cui Kong, Xue-Mei Gao, Xiao-Juan Jiang
• Journal: Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals (Cancer Biother Radiopharm) Vol. 36 Issue 1 Pg. 58-69 (Feb 2021) ISSN: 1557-8852 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32119786 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
• MicroRNAs
• Mirn337 microRNA, human
• RNA, Circular
• TCF12 protein, human

Topics

• Apoptosis (genetics)
• Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors (genetics)
• Carcinogenesis (genetics)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement (genetics)
• Cell Proliferation (genetics)
• Cervix Uteri (pathology)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Gene Knockdown Techniques
• Humans
• MicroRNAs (metabolism)
• RNA, Circular (genetics, metabolism)
• Up-Regulation
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)