Circ_MAPK9 promotes STAT3 and LDHA expression by silencing miR-642b-3p and affects the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
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Published:2024-01-02
Issue:1
Volume:19
Page:
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ISSN:1745-6150
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Container-title:Biology Direct
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Biol Direct
Author:
Wang Kunyuan,Lu Qianting,Luo Yufeng,Yu Ganxiang,Wang Zhilei,Lin Jiaen,Tan Zhenlin,Lao Yueqiong,Liu Shiming,Yang Hui
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Aberrant expression and activation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely associated with various cancers. The role of circ_MAPK9 (hsa_circ_0001566) in cancer progression remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the function, mechanism and clinical significance of circ_MAPK9 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods
Circ_MAPK9 expression on the microarray of tumor from clinical HCC patients was detected by in situ hybridization (ISH). Circ_MAPK9 knockdown was achieved with siRNAs in SMMC-7721 and SK-Hep1 HCC cell lines. The biological function of circ_MAPK9 was verified in vitro by CCK8 test, colony formation assay, transwell assay, PI-Annexin V staining, and in vivo by xenograft tumor in nude mice. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), subcellular fractionation assay, a dual-luciferase reporter assay and rescue experiments were employed for further mechanistic investigation.
Results
The expression of circ_MAPK9 was significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues and cells, which was found to be associated with poor prognosis. Patients with high expression of circ_MAPK9 had a shorter overall survival and disease-free survival in comparison to those with low circ_MAPK9 expression. Functional assays showed that circ_MAPK9 knockdown suppressed cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth in vivo, and promoted apoptosis in HCC cells. Moreover, we found that circ_MAPK9 knockdown could inhibit aerobic glycolysis by decreasing the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and lactic acid, which was mediated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA). Mechanistically, circ_MAPK9 functioned as ceRNA via sponging miR-642b-3p and alleviated the inhibitory effect of miR-642b-3p on its target signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and LDHA, thereby leading to STAT3 activation and LDHA expression.
Conclusions
Circ_MAPK9, as an oncogene, promotes HCC growth and metastasis through miR-642b-3p/STAT3-LDHA axis. Circ_MAPK9 could serve as a potential biomarker for HCC poor prognosis and diagnosis.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan Project Guangdong Medical Research Foundation General Project of Guangdong Natural Science Foundation
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Applied Mathematics,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Modeling and Simulation,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics,Immunology
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