Yingxin Wang1, Xia Liu2, Liwei Wang1, Zhenduo Zhang1, Zhong Li1, Ming Li3. 1. Department of General Surgery, Shijiazhuang People's Hospital, No. 365 Jianhuanan Street, Shijiazhuang, 050031, Hebei, China. 2. Department of Forensic Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China. 3. Department of General Surgery, Shijiazhuang People's Hospital, No. 365 Jianhuanan Street, Shijiazhuang, 050031, Hebei, China. vwgrxyp@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Circular RNA (circRNA) is a special kind of noncoding RNA that plays a vital function in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). However, the role of a new circRNA, circ_PGPEP1, in GC is unclear. AIMS: Exploring the role and mechanism of circ_PGPEP1 in GC progression. METHODS: The expression levels of circ_PGPEP1, miR-1297, and E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Flow cytometry, colony formation assay, MTT assay, and transwell assay were used to evaluate cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion. The protein levels of apoptosis-related markers and E2F3 were measured by western blot analysis. The interaction between circ_PGPEP1 and miR-1297 or miR-1297 and E2F3 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. In addition, animal experiments were performed to assess the effect of circ_PGPEP1 on GC tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: Circ_PGPEP1 was a highly expressed circRNA in GC. Loss-of-function experiment indicated that circ_PGPEP1 silencing could induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, while inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion in GC cells. MiR-1297 could be sponged by circ_PGPEP1, and its expression was downregulated in GC. MiR-1297 inhibitor could reverse the negatively regulation of circ_PGPEP1 knockdown on GC progression. Furthermore, we also found that E2F3 could be targeted by miR-1297, and its expression was positively regulated by circ_PGPEP1. Overexpression of E2F3 could invert the inhibitory effect of miR-1297 on GC progression. Animal experiments suggested that silenced circ_PGPEP1 could reduce GC tumor growth. CONCLUSION: Our research showed that circ_PGPEP1 might serve as a potential biomarker for GC.
BACKGROUND: Circular RNA (circRNA) is a special kind of noncoding RNA that plays a vital function in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). However, the role of a new circRNA, circ_PGPEP1, in GC is unclear. AIMS: Exploring the role and mechanism of circ_PGPEP1 in GC progression. METHODS: The expression levels of circ_PGPEP1, miR-1297, and E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Flow cytometry, colony formation assay, MTT assay, and transwell assay were used to evaluate cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion. The protein levels of apoptosis-related markers and E2F3 were measured by western blot analysis. The interaction between circ_PGPEP1 and miR-1297 or miR-1297 and E2F3 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. In addition, animal experiments were performed to assess the effect of circ_PGPEP1 on GC tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: Circ_PGPEP1 was a highly expressed circRNA in GC. Loss-of-function experiment indicated that circ_PGPEP1 silencing could induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, while inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion in GC cells. MiR-1297 could be sponged by circ_PGPEP1, and its expression was downregulated in GC. MiR-1297 inhibitor could reverse the negatively regulation of circ_PGPEP1 knockdown on GC progression. Furthermore, we also found that E2F3 could be targeted by miR-1297, and its expression was positively regulated by circ_PGPEP1. Overexpression of E2F3 could invert the inhibitory effect of miR-1297 on GC progression. Animal experiments suggested that silenced circ_PGPEP1 could reduce GC tumor growth. CONCLUSION: Our research showed that circ_PGPEP1 might serve as a potential biomarker for GC.