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Du A, Li S, Zhou Y, Disoma C, Liao Y, Zhang Y, Chen Z, Yang Q, Liu P, Liu S, Dong Z, Razzaq A, Tao S, Chen X, Liu Y, Xu L, Zhang Q, Li S, Peng J, Xia Z. M6A-mediated upregulation of circMDK promotes tumorigenesis and acts as a nanotherapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:109. [PMID: 35524319 PMCID: PMC9074191 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01575-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Emerging evidence suggest the critical role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in disease development especially in various cancers. However, the oncogenic role of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still largely unknown. Methods RNA sequencing was performed to identify significantly upregulated circRNAs in paired HCC tissues and non-tumor tissues. CCK-8 assay, colony formation, transwell, and xenograft mouse models were used to investigate the role of circRNAs in HCC proliferation and metastasis. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to silence gene expression. RNA immunoprecipitation, biotin pull-down, RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter assay and western blot were used to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results Hsa_circ_0095868, derived from exon 5 of the MDK gene (named circMDK), was identified as a new oncogenic circRNA that was significantly upregulated in HCC. The upregulation of circMDK was associated with the modification of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and poor survival in HCC patients. Mechanistically, circMDK sponged miR-346 and miR-874-3p to upregulate ATG16L1 (Autophagy Related 16 Like 1), resulting to the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Poly (β-amino esters) (PAEs) were synthesized to assist the delivery of circMDK siRNA (PAE-siRNA), which effectively inhibited tumor progression without obvious adverse effects in four liver tumor models including subcutaneous, metastatic, orthotopic and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Conclusions CircMDK could serve as a potential tumor biomarker that promotes the progression of HCC via the miR-346/874-3p-ATG16L1 axis. The PAE-based delivery of siRNA improved the stability and efficiency of siRNA targeting circMDK. The PAE-siRNA nanoparticles effectively inhibited HCC proliferation and metastasis in vivo. Our current findings offer a promising nanotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12943-022-01575-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashuai Du
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China.,Department of Infection Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, 550000, Guiyang, China
| | - Shiqin Li
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yuzheng Zhou
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Cyrollah Disoma
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yujie Liao
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yongxing Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Zongpeng Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Qinglong Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, 550000, Guiyang, China
| | - Pinjia Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Sixu Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Zijun Dong
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Aroona Razzaq
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Siyi Tao
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yuxin Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Lunan Xu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Qianjun Zhang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Shanni Li
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Jian Peng
- Department of Geriatric Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Zanxian Xia
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
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