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Lin XH, Liu ZY, Zhang DY, Zhang S, Tang WQ, Li DP, Zhang F, Chen RX, Weng SQ, Xue RY, Dong L. circRanGAP1/miR-27b-3p/NRAS Axis may promote the progression of hepatocellular Carcinoma. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:92. [PMID: 36348379 PMCID: PMC9644583 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00342-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Though circular RNAs (circRNAs) are the key regulators in tumor carcinogenesis, they remain largely unexplored in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS The expression of RanGAP1-derived circRNAs (circ_0063531, circ_0063534, circ_0063513, circ_0063518, circ_0063507, circ_0063723) were evaluated in eight paired HCC and normal tissues, and the correlation between circRanGAP1 (circ_0063531) expression and clinicopathological characteristics in 40 HCC patients was determined. The association between miR-27b-3p and circRanGAP1 or NRAS was predicted using bioinformatics analysis. The expression of circRanGAP1, miR-27b-3p, and NRAS were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The potential oncogenic role of circ-RanGAP1 was assessed using CCK-8, colony formation, transwell assays in vitro, subcutaneous tumor mouse model, vein tail metastatic model, and orthotopically implanted intrahepatic HCC model in vivo. Luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to explore the binding site between miR-27b-3p and circ-RanGAP1 or NRAS. Protein expression was detected using western blotting. The localization of miR-27b-3p and circ-RanGAP1 was investigated using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The level of immune infiltration was assessed by bioinformatics analysis, flow cytometry, and orthotopically implanted intrahepatic HCC models. RESULTS Here, we found elevated circRanGAP1 in the cells and clinical tissues of patients with HCC. Increased circRanGAP1 levels are associated with enlarged tumors and the advanced stage of TNM. CircRanGAP1 promotes the growth, migration, and HCC cell invasion, concurrently with the growth and metastasis of tumors in-vivo. Moreover, circRanGAP1 is mainly located inside the cytoplasm. Mechanistically, circRanGAP1 as an oncogene promotes HCC progression by miR-27b-3p/NRAS/ERK axis, furthermore, affects the infiltration level of tumor-associated macrophages probably by sponging miR-27b-3p. Immune infiltration analysis shows that NRAS is positively correlated with the levels of CD68+ tumor-associated macrophages in HCC samples and that NRAS and CD68 are related to the poor outcome of HCC. CONCLUSION These results reveal that circRanGAP1 is a HCC oncogene that function by the miR-27b-3p/NRAS/ERK axis and regulates the infiltration levels of tumor-associated macrophages by sponging miR-27b-3p. Therefore, circRANGAP1/ NRAS axis may be an important potential treatment target against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia-Hui Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Dan-Ying Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Si Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wen-Qing Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Dong-Ping Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Rong-Xin Chen
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shu-Qiang Weng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Ru-Yi Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Ling Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Gong Y, Jiao Y, Qi X, Fu J, Qian J, Zhu J, Yang H, Tang L. Construction of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network based on differentially co-expressed circular RNA in gastric cancer tissue and plasma by bioinformatics analysis. World J Surg Oncol 2022; 20:34. [PMID: 35164778 PMCID: PMC8845387 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02503-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence implicates circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been involved in human cancer progression. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we identified novel circRNAs related to gastric cancer and constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. METHODS Microarray datasets GSE83521 and GSE93541 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Then, we used computational biology to identify circRNAs that were differentially expressed in both GC tissue and plasma compared to normal controls; then, we detected the expression of the selected circRNAs in gastric cell lines by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We also identified circRNA-related candidate miRNAs and their target genes with online tools. Combining the predicted miRNAs and target mRNAs, a competing endogenous RNA regulatory network was established. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed, and interactions between proteins were predicted by using String and Cytoscape. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to elucidate the possible functions of these differentially expressed circRNAs. The regulatory network constructed using the microarray datasets (GSE83521 and GSE93541) contained three differentially co-expressed circRNAs (DECs). A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed based on 3 circRNAs, 43 miRNAs and 119 mRNAs. RESULTS GO and KEGG analysis showed that the regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway were highest degrees of enrichment respectively. We established a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network consisting of 165 nodes and 170 edges and identified hub genes by using MCODE plugin in Cytoscape. Furthermore, a core circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed based on hub genes. Hsa_circ_0001013 was finally determined to play an important role in the pathogenesis of GC according to the core circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. CONCLUSIONS We propose a new circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network that is associated with the pathogenesis of GC. The network may become a new molecular biomarker and could be used to develop potential therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of NanJing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuwen Jiao
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of NanJing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyang Qi
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of NanJing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinjin Fu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of NanJing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Qian
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of NanJing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of NanJing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haojun Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of NanJing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liming Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of NanJing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Zhu X, Du J, Gu Z. Circ-PVT1/miR-106a-5p/HK2 axis regulates cell growth, metastasis and glycolytic metabolism of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Cell Biochem 2020; 474:147-158. [PMID: 32737775 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-020-03840-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most commonly diagnosed oral cavity malignancy. A handful of circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently shown to act as crucial regulators in OSCC, including circRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (circ-PVT1). However, further exploration is still needed for the underlying functional mechanism behind circ-PVT1 in OSCC. The levels of circ-PVT1, microRNA-106a-5p (miR-106a-5p) and hexokinase II (HK2) were all examined applying with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cellular analyses (cell viability, apoptosis, metastasis and glycolysis) in vitro were performed via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, transwell migration/invasion assays and glycolysis-related indications (glucose consumption, lactate production and ATP/ADP ratio). HK2 protein level was measured through western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was conducted to study the interplay between miR-106a-5p and circ-PVT1 or HK2. Xenografts in mice were used for analyzing circ-PVT1 in vivo. Circ-PVT1 was expressed with abnormal high level while miR-106a-5p was down-regulated in OSCC tissues and cells. Circ-PVT1 knockdown reduced OSCC cell growth, metastasis and glycolysis. Moreover, circ-PVT1 acted in OSCC by functioning as a miR-106a-5p sponge. HK2 was a target of miR-106a-5p and miR-106a-5p played an anti-tumor role in OSCC by inhibiting HK2. Furthermore, HK2 could be regulated by circ-PVT1 via targeting miR-106a-5p. In xenograft models of mice, down-regulation of circ-PVT1 retarded tumorigenesis via the miR-106a-5p/HK2 axis. Our works suggested that circ-PVT1 directly combined with miR-106a-5p to mediate HK2 level, consequently regulating cellular behaviors in OSCC as a tumor promoter.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology
- Cell Movement
- Cell Proliferation
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Glycolysis
- Hexokinase/genetics
- Hexokinase/metabolism
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Nude
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- Mouth Neoplasms/genetics
- Mouth Neoplasms/metabolism
- Mouth Neoplasms/pathology
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- Prognosis
- RNA, Circular/genetics
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zhu
- Department of Oral Restoration, Qingdao Campus of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shibei District, No. 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Juan Du
- Disinfection Supply Center, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, 266011, Shandong, China
| | - Zhiqiang Gu
- Department of Oral Restoration, Qingdao Campus of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shibei District, No. 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
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Pereira AL, Magalhães L, Pantoja RP, Araújo G, Ribeiro-dos-Santos Â, Vidal AF. The Biological Role of Sponge Circular RNAs in Gastric Cancer: Main Players or Coadjuvants? Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1982. [PMID: 32708088 PMCID: PMC7409348 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of long noncoding RNAs able to perform multiple functions, including sponging microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-Binding Proteins (RBPs). They play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis, but its involvement during gastric cancer (GC) development and progression are not well understood. We gathered miRNA and/or RBPs sponge circRNAs present in GC, and accessed their biological roles through functional enrichment of their target genes or ligand RBPs. We identified 54 sponge circRNAs in GC that are able to sponge 51 miRNAs and 103 RBPs. Then, we evaluated their host gene expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and observed that COL1A2 is the most overexpressed gene, which may be due to circHIPK3/miR-29b-c/COL1A2 axis dysregulation. We identified 27 GC-related pathways that may be affected mainly by circPVT1, circHIPK3 and circNF1. Our results indicate that circHIPK3/miR-107/BDNF/LIN28 axis may mediate chemoresistance in GC, and that circPVT1, circHIPK3, circNF1, ciRS-7 and circ_0000096 appear to be involved in gastrointestinal cancer development. Lastly, circHIPK3, circNRIP1 and circSMARCA5 were identified in different ethnic populations and may be ubiquitous modulators of gastric carcinogenesis. Overall, the studied sponge circRNAs are part of a complex RBP-circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network, and are involved in the establishment, chemoresistance and progression of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adenilson Leão Pereira
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Altamira 68371-163, Brazil;
- Research Center on Oncology, Graduate Program of Oncology and Medical Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66073-000, Brazil;
| | - Leandro Magalhães
- Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (L.M.); (R.P.P.); (G.A.)
| | - Rafael Pompeu Pantoja
- Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (L.M.); (R.P.P.); (G.A.)
| | - Gilderlanio Araújo
- Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (L.M.); (R.P.P.); (G.A.)
| | - Ândrea Ribeiro-dos-Santos
- Research Center on Oncology, Graduate Program of Oncology and Medical Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66073-000, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (L.M.); (R.P.P.); (G.A.)
| | - Amanda Ferreira Vidal
- Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (L.M.); (R.P.P.); (G.A.)
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Wang HY, Wang YP, Zeng X, Zheng Y, Guo QH, Ji R, Zhou YN. Circular RNA is a popular molecule in tumors of the digestive system (Review). Int J Oncol 2020; 57:21-42. [PMID: 32377736 PMCID: PMC7252451 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.5054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Most tumors of the digestive system, including esophageal, gastric, liver and colorectal cancer, are malignant tumors that are associated with rates of high morbidity and mortality. The lack of effective methods for early diagnosis is an important cause of poor prognosis for these malignancies. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) belong to a family of endogenous, covalently closed non‑coding RNAs that are characterized as having no 5' cap structures or 3' poly‑A tails. Shortly following discovery, circRNAs were considered to be a product of mis‑splicing and have no significant biological function. However, in recent years, accumulating evidence is demonstrating that they serve key roles in tumorigenesis and have the potential to serve as diagnostic markers. The present article summarizes the biogenesis and function of circRNAs and reviews their role in seven common types of tumor of the digestive system whilst exploring their potential as tumor markers and the significant roles they can serve in the digestive system, in addition to providing a referencing point for future studies of digestive system malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ying Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology
- Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Ping Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology
- Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Xi Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology
- Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Ya Zheng
- Department of Gastroenterology
- Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Qing-Hong Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology
- Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Rui Ji
- Department of Gastroenterology
- Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Yong-Ning Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology
- Key Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Diseases of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
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