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Circular RNA circ-SLC7A5 Functions as a Competing Endogenous RNA to Impact Cell Biological Behaviors in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)

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Abstract

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have profound effects on establishment and pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Here, we defined whether circRNA solute carrier family 7 member 5 (circ-SLC7A5, also called hsa_circ_0040796) is causally involved in the pathogenesis of ESCC.

Methods

Circ-SLC7A5, microRNA (miR)-874-3p and coronin-1C (CORO1C) expression levels were gauged by qRT-PCR or immunoblotting. Cell functional phenotypes were tested by colony formation, EdU, flow cytometry, transwell and wound-healing assays. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were applied to ascertained circ-SLC7A5/miR-874-3p and miR-874-3p/CORO1C relationships.

Results

Circ-SLC7A5 was highly expressed in human ESCC. Circ-SLC7A5 depletion impaired cell growth, migration, invasiveness, and promoted apoptosis. Circ-SLC7A5 knockdown diminished ESCC cell tumorigenicity. Mechanistically, circ-SLC7A5 contained a binding site for miR-874-3p. Also, miR-874-3p was responsible for circ-SLC7A5’s function in ESCC cells. CORO1C was a direct miR-874-3p target. Circ-SLC7A5 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to control CORO1C by competing for shared miR-874-3p. Furthermore, CORO1C knockdown phenocopied miR-874-3p overexpression in impacting the biological behaviors of ESCC cells.

Conclusion

These findings identify circ-SLC7A5 as a crucial modulator of ESCC cells and establish a novel circ-SLC7A5/miR-874-3p/CORO1C ceRNA network in ESCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China

    Lei Wang

  2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China

    Zhipeng Hong

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L.W. designed and performed the research; L.W., Z.H. analyzed the data; L.W. wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Zhipeng Hong.

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Wang, L., Hong, Z. Circular RNA circ-SLC7A5 Functions as a Competing Endogenous RNA to Impact Cell Biological Behaviors in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC). Cell Biochem Biophys 82, 139–151 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-023-01183-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-023-01183-8

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