Circular RNA circFAT1(e2) Promotes Colorectal Cancer Tumorigenesis via the miR-30e-5p/ITGA6 Axis

Circ_0038718 augments colorectal cancer progression through mediating the miR-761/miR-214-3p/ITGA6 axis

BACKGROUND

Accumulating studies have disclosed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely associated with the malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of our work was to reveal the function of circ_0038718 in CRC.

METHODS

The level of genes and proteins were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. In vitro researches were executed via utilizing cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), EdU, flow cytometry analysis and wound-healing assay, individually. The target relationship was validated by Dual-luciferase reporter assay. In vivo assay was employed through establishing xenograft tumor model.

RESULTS

Circ_0038718 was identified to be increased in CRC tissues and cells. Circ_0038718 downregulation suppressed cell proliferation, migration and facilitated apoptosis of CRC. Mechanistically, circ_0038718 could sponge miR-761 and miR-214-3p to modulate the expression of ITGA6. The rescue experiments proved that miR-761 or miR-214-3p inhibitor attenuated the repressive impact of circ_0038718 inhibition on CRC cells progression, and overexpressed ITGA6 could weaken the inhibitory effect of miR-761 or miR-214-3p on tumor cells. Furthermore, depletion of circ_0038718 confined the tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0038718 aggravated the progression of CRC cells via mediating ITGA6 expression through targeting miR-761 and miR-214-3p, providing a new therapeutic target for CRC patients.

The Relationship Between the Expression of circFAT1 and Immune Cell in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective

To analyze the correlation between the expression of circFAT1 in serum and immune cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

A total of 96 patients with NSCLC admitted to our hospital from November 2019 to November 2022 were regarded as the study subjects. In the meantime, 96 volunteers who had physical examination in our hospital were regarded as the control group. The expression level of circFAT1 in serum was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. NSCLC cancer tissue (NSCLC group) and paracancerous tissue (tissue ≥ 2cm away from the focus) (paracancerous group) were collected during the operation, the expression of CD4+, CD8+ and Foxp3+ in tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry; the expression level of circFAT1 mRNA in NSCLC tissue was analyzed using the Ualcan database. Spearman correlation was applied to analyze the correlation between the expression of circFAT1 and immune cells (CD4+, Foxp3+, CD8+).

Results

The level of circFAT1 in NSCLC tissue was higher than that in normal tissue (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression level of circFAT1 in serum of NSCLC group was obviously higher (P < 0.05). The expression level of circFAT1 was related to lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and differentiation (P < 0.05). Compared with the paracancerous group, the positive expression rate of CD8+ in NSCLC group was obviously lower, and the positive expression rates of CD4+ and Foxp3+ were obviously higher (P < 0.05). The expression of CD4+, Foxp3+ and CD8+ in NSCLC patients' cancer tissue was related to lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and differentiation degree (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that circFAT1 was positively correlated with the expression of CD4+ and Foxp3+ and negatively correlated with the expression of CD8+ (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

CircFAT1 is highly expressed in the serum of NSCLC patients and is closely related to immune cells.

Retracted: Circular RNA circFAT1(e2) Promotes Colorectal Cancer Tumorigenesis via the miR-30e-5p/ITGA6 Axis

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/9980459.].

[MiR-30e-5p overexpression promotes proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer cells by activating the CXCL12 axis via downregulating PTEN]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the regulatory effects of miR-30e-5p on biological behaviors of colorectal cancer cells and the role of PTEN/CXCL12 axis in mediating these effects.

METHODS

Bioinformatic analysis was performed to explore the differential expression of miR-30e-5p between colorectal cancer tissues and normal tissues. RT-qPCR was used to detect the differential expression of miR-30e-5p in intestinal epithelial cells and colorectal cancer cells. Bioinformatics and dual luciferase assay were used to predict and validate the targeting relationship between miR-30e-5p and PTEN. Human and murine colorectal cancer cell lines were transfected with miR-30e-5p mimics, miR-30e-5p inhibitor, miR-30e-5p mimics+LV-PTEN, or miR-30e-5p inhibitor + si-PTEN. The changes in biological behaviors of the cells were detected using plate clone formation assay, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, scratch healing and Transwell assays. PTEN and CXCL12 expressions in the cancer cells were detected by Western blotting. The effects of miR-30e-5p inhibitor on colorectal carcinogenesis and development were observed in nude mice.

RESULTS

Bioinformatic analysis showed that miR-30e-5p expression was significantly elevated in colorectal cancer tissues compared with the adjacent tissue (P < 0.01). Higher miR-30e-5p expression was detected in colorectal cancer cell lines than in intestinal epithelial cells (P < 0.01). Dual luciferase assay confirmed the targeting relationship between miR-30e-5p and PTEN (P < 0.05). Transfection with miR-30e-5p mimics significantly enhanced proliferation and metastasis and inhibited apoptosis of the colorectal cancer cells (P < 0.05), and co-transfection with LV-PTEN obviously reversed these changes (P < 0.05). MiR-30e-5p mimics significantly inhibited PTEN expression and enhanced CXCL12 expression in the cancer cells (P < 0.01), and miR-30e-5p inhibitor produced the opposite effect. Transfection with miR-30e-5p inhibitor caused cell cycle arrest in the cancer cells, which was reversed by co-transfection with si-PTEN (P < 0.05). In the in vivo experiments, the colorectal cancer cells transfected with miR-30e-5p inhibitor showed significantly lowered tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of miR-30e-5p promotes the malignant behaviors of colorectal cancer cells by downregulating PTEN to activate the CXCL12 axis.

Poor Prognosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Correlates With ITGA6

OBJECTIVES

Oral cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related death. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90% of all oral cancers. Autophagy is a conserved essential catabolic process related to OSCC. The aim of this study was to elucidate diagnostic and prognostic autophagy-related biomarkers in OSCC.

METHODS

The OSCC gene expression data set was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the OSCC samples and adjacent healthy tissues were identified by R software. The Human Autophagy Database was screened, which revealed 222 autophagy-related genes. The autophagy-related DEGs were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were applied. Protein-protein interaction network analysis was performed in the STRING database. cytoHubba in the Cytoscape software was applied to determine the top 10 hub genes. The data set of patients with OSCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to evaluate the prognostic value of the 10 hub genes. The association between prognosis-related hub genes and immune infiltrates was explored.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven autophagy-related DEGs were identified. The top 10 hub genes were CCL2, CDKN2A, CTSB, CTSD, CXCR4, ITGA6, MAP1LC3A, MAPK3, PARP1, and RAB11A. ITGA6 was identified as the most efficient biomarker. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that ITGA6 had the highest diagnostic accuracy for OSCC (area under the curve = 0.925). ITGA6 expression was significantly related to immune infiltrates.

CONCLUSIONS

The autophagy-related gene ITGA6 might be an efficient diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in OSCC.