Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000654 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by regulating the miR ‐149‐5p/IL‐6/STAT3 pathway

AbstractCircular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) with covalently closed ‐loop structures that play an essential regulatory role in diverse malignancies, including esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Circ_0000654 expression in ESCC and its mechanism of action remains unclear. Real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR) was employed to detect circ_0000654 and miR‐149‐5p expressi on in ESCC tissues. Circ_0000654 and miR‐149‐5p expression in ESCC cells was selectively regulated. Furthermore, interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression in cells was detected by RT‐PCR and western blot analysis, while CCK8, BrdU, flow cy tometry, and transwell assays were used to monitor cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, respectively. The dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were used to verify the targeting relationship between circ_0000654 and miR‐149‐5p, miR‐149‐5p and IL‐6. The function o f circ_0000654 on ESCC cell proliferation and metastasis in vivo was examined using a subcutaneous xenograft model and a tail intravenous injection model in nude mice. Circ_0000654 was significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines, and its high expression was remarkably associated with an increased T stage and local lymph node metastasis in ESCC patients. Circ_0000654 overexpression and knockdown experiments revealed that circ_0000654 regulated ESCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, a...
Source: IUBMB Life - Category: Research Authors: Tags: RESEARCH COMMUNICATION Source Type: research