Background
Circular RNA circZNF652 promotes LPS-induced inflammation, which contributes to the development of osteoarthritis (OA), indicating the potential involvement of CRNDE in OA. This study was carried to explore the involvement of circZNF652 in OA.
Methods
RT-qPCR was performed to analyze the expression of circZNF652 and PTEN mRNA in synovial fluid samples from 60 OA patients and 60 healthy controls. Correlations between circZNF652 and PTEN mRNA were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Overexpression and siRNA silencing of circZNF652 were achieved in chondrocytes, followed by performing RT-qPCR and Western blot to analyze the expression of PTEN. The role of circZNF652 and PTEN in regulating the apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by LPS was analyzed by cell apoptosis assay.
Results
We found that circZNF652 was overexpressed in OA and positively correlated with PTEN mRNA. In chondrocytes, circZNF652 overexpression increased the expression of PTEN, and circZNF652 siRNA silencing decreased the expression of PTEN. Moreover, circZNF652 and PTEN positively regulated the apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by LPS. PTEN overexpression reversed the inhibitory effects of circZNF652 siRNA silencing on cell apoptosis.
Conclusion
CircZNF652E is overexpressed in OA and positively regulates LPS-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes by upregulating PTEN.