Circular RNA hsa_circ_0004689 (circSWT1) promotes NSCLC progression via the miR-370-3p/SNAIL axis by inducing cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Previous studies have reported the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SWT1-derived circRNAs were confirmed to affect the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the biological functions of SWT1-derived circRNAs in cancers are still unknown. Here, we investigated the potential role of SWT1-derived circRNAs in NSCLC. We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to measure the expression of circSWT1 in NSCLC tissues and paired normal tissues. The potential functions of circSWT1 in tumor progression were assessed by CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, and matrigel transwell assays in vitro and by xenograft tumor models in vivo. Next, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was evaluated by western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Moreover, circRIP, RNA pulldown assays, luciferase reporter gene assays, and FISH were conducted to illuminate the molecular mechanisms of circSWT1 via the miR-370-3p/SNAIL signal pathway. Then, we knocked out SNAIL in A549 and H1299 cells to identify the roles of circSWT1 in the progression and EMT of NSCLC through SNAIL. Finally, circSWT1 functions were confirmed in vivo using xenograft tumor models. CircSWT1 expression was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues, and high expression of circSWT1 predicted poor prognosis in NSCLC via survival analysis. In addition, overexpression of circSWT1 promoted the invasion and migration of NSCLC cells. Subsequently, we found that overexpression of circSWT1 induced EMT and that knockdown of circSWT1 inhibited EMT in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, circSWT1 relieved the inhibition of downstream SNAIL by sponging miR-370-3p. Moreover, we found that these effects could be reversed by knocking out SNAIL. Finally, we verified that circSWT1 promoted NSCLC progression and EMT in xenograft tumor models. CircSWT1 promoted the invasion, migration, and EMT of NSCLC. CircSWT1 could serve as a potential biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Long X ，Wang DG ，Wu ZB ，Liao ZM ，Xu JJ ... -  《Cancer Medicine》

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0008305 (circPTK2) inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis by controlling TIF1γ in non-small cell lung cancer.

Wang L ，Tong X ，Zhou Z ，Wang S ，Lei Z ，Zhang T ，Liu Z ，Zeng Y ，Li C ，Zhao J ，Su Z ，Zhang C ，Liu X ，Xu G ，Zhang HT ... -  《Molecular Cancer》

Hsa_circ_0088036 promotes nonsmall cell lung cancer progression by regulating miR-1343-3p/Bcl-3 axis through TGFβ/Smad3/EMT signaling.

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been the focus of numerous studies, and some circRNAs have been linked to the development of multiple malignant tumors, including NSCLC. Nevertheless, the functional role and mechanisms of circRNAs in NSCLC remain largely unknown. The primary objective of this study was to screen the associated circRNA in NSCLC and investigate its mechanism. CircRNA microarray was used to identify circRNAs that were abnormally expressed in NSCLC tissue samples. Expression of hsa_circRNA_0088036 was validated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines after the correlation between hsa_circRNA_0088036 and prognosis was determined. We then used a series of function gain-and-loss assays to determine the role of hsa_circ_0088036 in NSCLC progression. RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pull-down, and RNA interference assays were used to assess the interaction between hsa_circ_0088036 and miR-1343-3p/Bcl-3 axis. Moreover, mechanistic assays were applied to investigate the involved signaling pathway regulated by the hsa_circ_0088036/miR-1343-3p/Bcl-3 axis. Microarray analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmed the presence of a circRNA termed hsa_circ 0088036 that was upregulated in NSCLC tissue samples and cell lines and indicated a positive association with patient prognosis. Functionally, hsa_circ_0088036 silencing inhibited proliferative, invasive, and migrative potential of NSCLC cells as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins by sponging miR-1343-3p to inhibit Bcl-3. Furthermore, mechanistic experiments demonstrated that hsa_circ_0088036 promoted NSCLC progression by activating the TGFβ/Smad3/EMT signaling pathway via miR-1343-3p/Bcl-3 axis. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0088036 functions as an oncogene by targeting the miR-1343-3p/Bcl-3 axis via TGFβ/Smad3/EMT signaling pathway.

Ge P ，Chen X ，Liu J ，Jing R ，Zhang X ，Li H ... -  《-》

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0072309 inhibits non-small cell lung cancer progression by sponging miR-580-3p.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to top the list of cancer mortalities worldwide. Early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions targeting NSCLC is becoming the world's significant challenge. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as a group of potential cancer biomarkers. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to examine the expression of circ_0072309 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), wound healing and Transwell assays were used to analyze cell proliferation, migration and invasion in A549 and H1299 cells. The relationship between circ_0072309 and miR-580-3 was analyzed by Luciferase reporter and RNA pull down assays. We screened circ_0072309 from Gene Expression Omnibus and found that circ_0072309 was lowly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The transfection of circ_0072309-overexpressing vector significantly suppressed the cell proliferation, migration and invasion in A549 and H1299 cells. We predicted that miR-580-3p is a target of circ_0072309 by using publicly available bioinformatic algorithms Circinteractome tool and confirmed that circ_0072309 directly bound to miR-580-3p. Furthermore, the addition of miR-580-3p mitigated the blockage of cell proliferation, migration and invasion induced by circ_0072309. These data showed that circ_0072309 inhibits the progression of NSCLC progression via blocking the expression of miR-580-3p. These findings revealed the anti-tumor role of circ_0072309 during the development of NSCLC and provided a novel diagnostic biomarker and potential therapy for NSCLC.

Pang W ，Huang F ，Zhang X ，Ye M ，Huang Y ，Huang X ，Pang J ，Cai C ，Wang Z ... -  《-》

Silencing of hsa_circ_0101145 reverses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma via regulation of the miR-548c-3p/LAMC2 axis.

Jin J ，Liu H ，Jin M ，Li W ，Xu H ，Wei F ... -  《Aging-US》