<p>Circular RNA ZNF609 Promoted Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Upregulating PAP2C Expression via Sponging miR-342-3p</p>

Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence has revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) participated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, the roles of most circRNAs have not been studied. Methods: CircZNF609, miR-342-3p and RAP2C expressions were assessed by qPCR or Western blot. Loss-of-function experiments were performed using si-circZNF609 transfection, followed by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell assay. Informatic tools and rescue experiments were carried out to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results: We showed that circZNF609 was overexpressed in HCC tissues and cells, as well as associated with poor clinical characteristics. Depletion of circZNF609 restrained HCC cell viability, migration and invasion while enhanced cell apoptosis. As to mechanism, miR-342-3p was sponged by circZNF609, and RAP2C was targeted by miR-342-3p. The effects on HCC cells induced by si-circZNF609 could be reversed by miR-342-3p inhibitor or RAP2C. In vivo, circZNF609 knockdown inhibited tumorigenesis of HCC mice, confirming the findings in vitro. Conclusion: CircZNF609 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and driven HCC progression by sponging miR-342-3p and upregulating RAP2C. This study may provide new potential therapeutic targets for HCC treatment.

The Crosstalk Between Regulatory Non-Coding RNAs and Nuclear Factor Kappa B in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…Although there have been few reports on the crosstalk between circRNAs and NF-kB in HCC, some circRNAs have been discovered to be able to sponge the miRNAs that are reported herein which can mediate NF-kB signaling in HCC. For example, circZNF609-miR-342-3p (111), circPTGR-miR-129-5p (112) and circHIPK3-miR-124 (113) pathways have been discovered in HCC recently, suggesting that these circRNAs that function as ceRNAs might mediate HCC progression though regulating NF-kB signaling. Moreover, circRNAs have also been discovered to have complex roles in mediating NF-kB signaling, which contributes to the development of colorectal cancer (114), ovarian cancer (115), breast cancer (116) and other cancers (117,118).…”

Circular RNA ZNF609 functions as a competing endogenous RNA in regulating E2F transcription factor 6 through competitively binding to microRNA-197-3p to promote the progression of cervical cancer progression

“…Circ-ZNF609 was identified to play a vital part in cancer progression. To cite an instance, circ-ZNF609 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis by sponging miR-342-3p and increasing PAP2C level [ 22 ]. Silenced circ-ZNF609 represses cancerogenesis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by the miR-188/ELF2 pathway [ 23 ].…”

MicroRNA‑200c‑3p suppresses intervertebral disc degeneration by targeting RAP2C/ERK signaling

“…RAP2C is an evolutionarily conserved Ras-like GTPase that serves as a molecular switch that pairs receptor signaling to remodel the actin cytoskeleton, cell adhesion and cell polarity (30,31). Previous studies have identified a correlation between miRNAs and RAP2C in multiple pathological processes (10,32,33). Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury promotes neurocyte apoptosis by reducing RAP2C via sponging miR-204 (34).…”