Silencing circular RNA hsa_circ_0004491 promotes metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

In this study, we investigated the role of hsa_circ_0004491 in OSCC cell migration and invasion and examined the clinical characteristics associated with its expression.Main methodsHsa_circ_0004491 expression was examined in 40 paired OSCC and normal tissue samples using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Wound healing, transwell and western blotting assays were conducted in OSCC cells up- or down-regulation of hsa_circ_0004491 to evaluate changes in cell migration, invasion and protein expression.KeyfindingsqRT-PCR analysis revealed that hsa_circ_0004491 was significantly downregulated in OSCC tissues compared with paired normal tissues (P < 0.001), and this low expression was associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0398; area under ROC curve = 0.7510). Hsa_circ_000449 silencing or overexpression significantly affected the invasion and migration abilities of OSCC cells. Western blotting analysis showed that EMT-related proteins expression was significantly changed after hsa_circ_000449 silencing or overexpression.SignificanceThe expression level of hsa_circ_0004491 affects the migration and invasion of OSCC cells. Hsa_circ_0004491 may therefore play a role in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research