Expression Profile of Circular RNAs in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Overview

Journal Front Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2020 Dec 17

PMID 33330021

Citations 12

Authors

Yanxiong Shao

Yuhan Song

Siming Xu

Siyi Li

Haiwen Zhou

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Among oral maxillofacial cancers, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has the highest incidence. However, the role of circRNAs in OSCC is still not clear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the circRNA expression profile in OSCC and explore further the potential role of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of OSCC.

Methods: CircRNA sequencing was performed in 6 pairs of samples of OSCC and normal oral mucosal tissues. Expression of selected circRNAs was validated by qRT-PCR. GO and KEGG analyses were performed and binding relationships between circRNAs and miRNAs were predicted. The hsa_circ_0001766/miR-877-3p/VEGFA axis was selected to further elucidate its role in OSCC.

Results: We showed that there were 122 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs. Eight out of 10 selected circRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the identified DE circRNAs might be involved in the progression of OSCC. Then, after identification by Sanger sequencing and RNase R assay, the upregulated hsa_circ_0001766 was selected to investigate its potential role in OSCC. Bioinformatics analysis showed that hsa_circ_0001766 might act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that sponged miR-877-3p to upregulate VEGFA expression. We selected OSCC cell lines SCC9 and SCC25. PCR results showed that the expression of hsa_circ_0001766 and VEGFA was upregulated in SCC9 and SCC25. Subsequently, using western blot, PCR, CCK8, and colony formation assays, we found that knocking down circRNA0001766 inhibited the expression of VEGFA and the proliferation of OSCC cells. Following this, miR-877-3p inhibitor reversed the inhibitory effect of si-hsa_circ_0001766 on expression of VEGFA and proliferation of OSCC cells.

Conclusions: In conclusion, our study revealed the possible role of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of OSCC, and identified the potential role of the hsa_circ_0001766/miR-877-3p/VEGFA axis in OSCC progression.

Citing Articles

The Potential MicroRNA Diagnostic Biomarkers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue.

Park Y, Ryu J, Ju Y Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2024; 46(7):6746-6756.

PMID: 39057044 PMC: 11276561. DOI: 10.3390/cimb46070402.

CircRNAs: A Promising Star for Treatment and Prognosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Zhu M, Chen D, Ruan C, Yang P, Zhu J, Zhang R Int J Mol Sci. 2023; 24(18).

PMID: 37762497 PMC: 10532269. DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814194.

A Comprehensive Study on Signal Transduction and Therapeutic Role of miR-877 in Human Cancers.

Rafat M, Kohsarian M, Bahiraei M, Nikpoor A Adv Biomed Res. 2023; 12:118.

PMID: 37434921 PMC: 10331537. DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_412_21.

CircRNA-miRNA-VEGFA: an important pathway to regulate cancer pathogenesis.

Zhang L, Zhang Y, Li X, Gao H, Chen X, Li P Front Pharmacol. 2023; 14:1049742.

PMID: 37234708 PMC: 10206052. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1049742.

Circ_0004491 stimulates guanine nucleotide-binding protein alpha subunit to inhibit the malignant progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by sponging miR-2278.

Cheng T, Huang F, Zhang Y, Zhou Z J Dent Sci. 2023; 18(1):237-247.

PMID: 36643221 PMC: 9831788. DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2022.05.018.

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