Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks the sixth most common cancer in the number of malignancies worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in the progression of several malignancies. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanism and role of hsa_circ_0006421 in HCC are yet unclear. The present study aimed to verify the molecular mechanism and effects of hsa_circ_0006421 in HCC.
Methods
A total of 34 paired HCC tissues and paraneoplastic tissues surgically resected from patients were collected, and the expression of hsa_circ_0006421 in HCC tissues and the correlation with clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Then, CCK-8, colony formation, cell migration assay, transwell invasion assay, and Annexin-V/PI staining were used to assess the effects of hsa_circ_0006421 on the growth, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of HCC cells. Next, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of miR-134-5p, CELF2, and hsa_circ_0006421. Finally, the targeting interactions of miR-134-5p and hsa_circ_0006421, CELF2 and miR-134-5p were explored using the dual-luciferase reporter assay.
Results
Hsa_circ_0006421 was diminished in HCC tissues, and its downregulation was related to cirrhosis history. Hsa_circ_0006421 knockdown promoted HCC cell growth, migration, and invasion and inhibited apoptosis, whereas overexpression had opposite effects. Moreover, hsa_circ_0006421 served as the competing endogenous RNA of miR-134-5p. Subsequently, a reciprocal correlation between CELF2 and miR-134-5p was established. Hsa_circ_0006421 positively regulated the protein level of CELF2 in HCC.
Conclusion
Hsa_circ_0006421 inhibits liver cancer by regulating miR-134-5p/CELF2 axis.