Circ_0027470 promotes cadmium exposure‐induced prostatic fibrosis via sponging miRNA‐1236‐3p and stimulating SHH signaling pathway

Abstract

AbstractCadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal pollutant and serves as an important environmental endocrine‐disrupting chemical. Cd exposure is believed to can enhance the risks of age‐related disorders including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This study was to investigate the harms of Cd exposure on mice prostate and human nonmalignant prostate epithelial RWPE‐1 cells. Mice prostate fibrosis was evaluated by visualizing the prostatic collagen deposition via Masson and Sirius red staining, and detecting the content of hydroxyproline. Additionally, the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), primary ciliogenesis and SHH signaling pathways in both mice prostate and RWPE‐1 cells were evaluated. It was found that Cd exposure stimulated prostatic collagen deposition, EMT and primary ciliogenesis, as well as enhanced the circ_0027470 level and reduced the miRNA‐1236‐3p level. Circ_0027470 functioned as a sponge of miRNA‐1236‐3p, which had the inhibiting target of SHH. The whole results showed that circ_0027470 promoted Cd exposure‐induced prostatic fibrosis via sponging miRNA‐1236‐3p and subsequently stimulating SHH signaling pathway. This study shed a light on a novel molecular mechanism involved in circRNA for Cd exposure‐induced prostate deficits.