Introduction: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are crucial regulators of tumor occurrence and progression, and circRNAs are enriched and stable in exosomes. The present study aimed to explore the role and potential mechanism of cancer-derived exosomal circ_0081234 in prostate cancer (PCa).Methods: Exosomes were extracted using the ExoQuick Precipitation Kit (System Biosciences, Mountain View, CA, USA). The levels of circ_0081234, miR-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP 3 K1) were examined using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blotting. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated via a transwell assay. The protein levels of N-cadherin, vimentin and E-cadherin were detected by western blotting. The interaction between miR-1 and circ_0081234 or MAP 3 K1 was verified via a dual-luciferase reporter assay and an RNA pull-down assay.Results: The circ_0081234 level was increased in PCa tissues with spinal metastasis in comparison to primary PCa tissues without spinal metastasis. Exosomal circ_0081234 promoted the migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of PCa cells. Knockdown of circ_0081234 blocked PCa cell progression by regulating miR-1. In addition, miR-1 overexpression suppressed PCa cell progression by repressing MAP 3 K1. Moreover, circ_0081234 increased MAP 3 K1 level via sponging miR-1. Depletion of circ_0081234 inhibited tumor growth in vivo.Conclusions: Exosomal circ_0081234 promoted migration, invasion and epithelialmesenchymal transition of PCa cells by regulating the miR-1/MAP 3 K1 axis.

Aim To evaluate the roles of plasma soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14) and sCD14 subtype (sCD14-ST) in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in the prediction of an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Methods We quantified the levels of white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, sCD14, and sCD14-ST in patients with COPD and healthy controls. The relationships between sCD14 or sCD14-ST and inflammatory markers were analyzed in each group. We used receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves to evaluate the potential roles of sCD14 and sCD14-ST in the diagnosis of COPD and in predicting AECOPD. Results A total of 62 subjects were recruited, including 15 controls and 47 COPD patients, with the latter including 32 stable COPD and 15 AECOPD. WBC, IL-8, sCD14, and sCD14-ST were significantly higher in COPD than in the controls (all P < 0.05). WBC, CRP, ESR, IL-6, IL-8, sCD14, and sCD14-ST were higher in AECOPD than in the controls (all P < 0.05). In the COPD group, sCD14 levels were positively correlated with WBC, IL-8, and sCD14-ST (P < 0.05), and sCD14-ST levels were positively correlated with WBC and IL-8 (P < 0.05). In the AECOPD group, sCD14 was positively correlated with WBC, CRP, IL-8, and sCD14-ST (P < 0.05); sCD14-ST was positively correlated with WBC, IL-6, and IL-8 (P < 0.05). Discrimination between COPD and controls was tested by calculating areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for sCD14 and sCD14-ST showing scores of 0.765 (95% CI 0.648–0.883) and 0.735 (95% CI 0.537–0.933) respectively. Similarly, discrimination between AECOPD and controls using sCD14 and sCD14-ST showed scores of 0.862 (95% CI 0.714–1.000) and 0.773 (95% CI 0.587–0.960), respectively. Conclusion Our study suggests that the inflammatory markers sCD14 and sCD14-ST might play an important diagnostic role in COPD and help predict AECOPD.