Up-regulation of circular RNA hsa_circ_01844 induces apoptosis and suppresses proliferation and migration of glioblastoma cells

Circ_0027446 promotes malignant development of glioblastoma by interacting with miR-346 to up-regulate PGK1

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can play essential roles in tumor development, including glioblastoma (GBM). The current study was performed to explore the function and mechanism of circ_0027446 in GBM progression. Circ_0027446, microRNA-346 (miR-346) and Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) levels were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Cell behaviors were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, EdU assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay. Glycolytic metabolism was analyzed by commercial kits. The protein level was determined via western blot. The target interaction was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Circ_0027446 function in vivo was explored by tumor xenograft assay. Circ_0027446 expression was significantly up-regulated in GBM samples and cells. Circ_0027446 down-regulation suppressed proliferation, invasion, glycolytic metabolism and enhanced apoptosis of GBM cells. MiR-346 was a target of circ_0027446, and circ_0027446 promoted GBM progression by sponging miR-346. PGK1 acted as a target gene of miR-346, and circ_0027446 interacted with miR-346 to regulate PGK1 expression. Overexpression of miR-346 inhibited malignant behaviors of GBM cells through down-regulating PGK1. Circ_0027446 contributed to tumor growth in vivo via miR-346/PGK1 axis. The current evidences demonstrated that circ_0027446 facilitated malignant progression of GBM through binding to miR-346 to up-regulate PGK1.

lncRNA TUG1 regulates Smac/DIABLO expression by competitively inhibiting miR-29b and modulates the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells in age-related cataracts

BACKGROUND

As one of the early discovered long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), taurine upregulation gene 1 ( TUG1 ) has been widely expressed in a variety of tumors. Moreover, it promotes cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. However, our understanding of its importance in the pathogenesis of cataracts remains limited. This study aimed to explore the mechanism by which lncRNA TUG1 mediates lens epithelial cell apoptosis in age-related cataracts (ARC) by regulating the microRNAs (miR-29b)/second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases axis, and to identify more non-surgical strategies for cataract treatment.

METHODS

The messenger RNA expression levels of TUG1 , miR-29b, and Smac were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in vivo and in vitro . The expression of the Smac protein was analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Flow cytometry and cell counting kit-8 assays were used to detect the cell apoptosis and proliferation rates, respectively. The targeted regulatory relationship between lncRNA TUG1 , miR-29b, and Smac was verified by viral vector construction, co-transfection, nuclear and cytoplasmic separation, luciferase reporter assays, and RNA immunoprecipitation.

RESULTS

TUG1 and Smac were expressed at high levels in ARC and HLE-B3 cells treated with 200 μmol/L H 2 O 2 , whereas miR-29b expression was decreased. In vitro cell experiments confirmed that down-regulation of TUG1 could inhibit the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells. Mechanistically, Smac expression was negatively regulated by miR-29b. TUG1 competitively inhibited miR-29b expression and caused greater release of Smac. In addition, miR-29b partially reversed the effects of TUG1 on human lens epithelial cell line cells.

CONCLUSIONS

lncRNA TUG1 increases Smac expression and promotes apoptosis of lens epithelial cells in ARC by competitively inhibiting miR-29b. This mechanism is the cytological basis for ARC formation. Based on these results, the lncRNA TUG1/miR29b/Smac axis may be a new molecular pathway that regulates ARC development.

circRPPH1_025 Overexpression Promotes Migration and Invasion of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Objective

To study the effect of circ_0000512 (circRPPH1_025) on the tumorigensis and development of glioblastoma and its molecular mechanism.

Methods

The expression levels of circ_0000512 in normal astrocytes (NHA) and human glioblastoma cell lines (U87, U251, and A172) and the expression levels of circ_0000512 and linear RNA RPPH1 in U87 cells after RNase R treatment were detected by qRT-PCR. The effects of circ_0000512 knockdown or overexpression on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of U87 cells were detected by CCK-8 assay, cell colony formation assay, transwell invasion assay, wound healing assay, and western blot.

Results

The expression of circ_0000512 was upregulated in glioblastoma cells, and the overexpression of circ_0000512 was beneficial to the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of U87 cells, while knockdown of circ_0000512 showed the opposite results.

Conclusion

circ_0000512 can be used as a potential target for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of glioblastoma multiforme.

Hsa_circ_0000418 promotes the progression of glioma by regulating microRNA-409-3p / pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 axis

Glioma is the commonest intracranial malignancy, and circRNAs are important regulatory factors which are implicated in the development of glioma. Nonetheless, the role of circRNAs in glioma is largely unknown. The research is performed to elaborate on the biological role of has_circ_0000418 (circ_0000418) in glioma progression and its potential molecular mechanism. The differentially expressed circRNAs in glioblastoma patient derived cells and neural progenitor cells were analyzed based on the microarray data of GSE146463. Additionally, qRT-PCR and Western blot experiments were conducted to measure the expression of circ_0000418, microRNA-409-3p (miR-409-3p) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) in glioma tissues/cells. Cell growth and cell cycle distribution were monitored using CCK-8 assay, BrdU assay and flow cytometry. Bioinformatics prediction, dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment and RIP assay were conducted to verify the targeting relationship between circ_0000418 and miR-409-3p, miR-409-3p and PDK1 3ʹUTR. In this work, we observed that, circ_0000418 expression level was significantly up-regulated in glioma tissues and cell lines. Circ_0000418 overexpression facilitated glioma cell growth and accelerated cell cycle progression, while knockdown of circ_0000418 produced the opposite effects. Circ_0000418 specifically combined with miR-409-3p, and circ_0000418 negatively modulated the expression of miR-409-3p. PDK1 acted as a target gene of miR-409-3p, and PDK1 could be positively and indirectly modulated by circ_0000418 in glioma cells. In summary, circ_0000418 enhances glioma cell growth and accelerates cell cycle progression by regulating miR-409-3p/PDK1 axis.

Circular RNAs and glioblastoma multiforme: focus on molecular mechanisms

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), as a deadly and almost incurable brain cancer, is the most invasive form of CNS tumors that affects both children and adult population. It accounts for approximately half of all primary brain tumors. Despite the remarkable advances in neurosurgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapeutic approaches, cell heterogeneity and numerous genetic alterations in cell cycle control, cell growth, apoptosis, and cell invasion, result in an undesirable resistance to therapeutic strategies; thereby, the median survival duration for GBM patients is unfortunately still less than two years. Identifying new therapeutics and employing the combination therapies may be considered as wonderful strategies against the GBM. In this regard, circular RNAs (circRNAs), as tumor inhibiting and/or stimulating RNA molecules, can regulate the cancer-developing processes, including cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, invasion, and chemoresistance. Hereupon, these molecules have been introduced as potentially effective therapeutic targets to defeat GBM. The current study aims to investigate the fundamental molecular and cellular mechanisms in association with circRNAs involved in GBM pathogenesis. Among multiple mechanisms, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, and MAPK signaling, angiogenic processes, and metastatic pathways will be thoroughly discussed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of circRNAs in pathophysiology of GBM. Video Abstract.

Identification of a novel circular RNA circZNF652/miR-486-5p/SERPINE1 signaling cascade that regulates cancer aggressiveness in glioblastoma (GBM)

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely associated with cancer development in glioblastoma (GBM), and this study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms of a novel circular RNA circZNF652 in regulating GBM aggressiveness. The present study found that CircZNF652 and SERPINE1 were upregulated, while miR-486-5p was downregulated in GBM tissues and cell lines, and GBM patients with high expression of CircZNF652 and SERPINE1, and patients with low expression of miR-486-5p tended to have a worse prognosis. Further results validated that both silencing of circZNF652 and miR-486-5p overexpression suppressed cell growth, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumorigenesis in GBM cells in vitro and in vivo. Next, the underlying mechanisms were investigated, and we found that circZNF652 sponged miR-486-5p to upregulate SERPINE1 in GBM cells. Also, we validated that knock-down of circZNF652 regulated the miR-486-5p/SERPINE1 axis to reverse the malignant phenotypes in GBM cells. Interestingly, we noticed that GBM cells derived exosomes were characterized by high-expressed CircZNF652. Collectively, we concluded that targeting the circular RNA circZNF652/miR-486-5p/SERPINE1 axis was a novel and effective strategy to suppress cancer progression in GBM.

Circ_0007121 Facilitates Trophoblastic Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion via the Regulation of the miR-421/ZEB1 Axis in Preeclampsia

Noncoding circular RNAs (circRNAs) have participated in the progression of preeclampsia (PE) via inhibiting microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate gene expression. This study was designed to explore the miRNA/mRNA mechanism of hsa_circ_0007121 (circ_0007121) in PE. The expression detection of circ_0007121, microRNA-421 (miR-421), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Transwell assay was used to determine cell migration and invasion. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry. The protein levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and ZEB1 were measured via western blot. The interaction between miR-421 and circ_0007121 or ZEB1 was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expression detection indicated that circ_0007121 was downregulated in PE patients and the clinical data revealed that circ_0007121 was related to PE. The upregulation of circ_0007121 promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in trophoblastic cells. Furthermore, circ_0007121 was identified as a sponge of miR-421 and the function of circ_0007121 was dependent on the sponge effect on miR-421. Moreover, ZEB1 was a target of miR-421 and circ_0007121/miR-421 axis could regulate the expression of ZEB1. In addition, miR-421 overexpression repressed trophoblastic cell behaviors through downregulating the ZEB1 level. Altogether, circ_0007121 contributed to the development of trophoblastic cells by regulating the miR-421/ZEB1 axis.