Circular RNA hsa_circ_0068871 regulates FGFR3 expression and activates STAT3 by targeting miR-181a-5p to promote bladder cancer progression

• Published in: Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research 2019-04, Vol.38 (1), p.169-169, Article 169
• Main Authors: Mao, Weipu, Huang, Xin, Wang, Longsheng, Zhang, Ziwei, Liu, Mengnan, Li, Yan, Luo, Ming, Yao, Xudong, Fan, Jie, Geng, Jiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal experimentation; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - genetics; Binding sites; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Bladder cancer; Cell culture; Cell cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement - genetics; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Disease Progression; FGFR3; Fluorescence; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Health savings accounts; hsa_circ_0068871; Humans; Kinases; Lentivirus - genetics; Luciferase; Lymphatic system; Metastasis; Mice; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; miR-181a-5p; Mutation; Physiology; Prostate cancer; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 - genetics; RNA; RNA - genetics; STAT3; STAT3 Transcription Factor - genetics; Surgery; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - genetics; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• ISSN: 1756-9966; 0392-9078; 1756-9966
• DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1136-9

FGFR3 plays an important role in the development of bladder cancer (BCa). Hsa_circ_0068871 is a circRNA generated from several exons of FGFR3. However, the potential functional role of hsa_circ_0068871 in BCa remains largely unknown. Here we aim to evaluate the role of hsa_circ_0068871 in BCa. We selected miR-181a-5p as the potential target miRNA of hsa_circ_0068871. The expression levels of hsa_circ_0068871 and miR-181a-5p were examined in BCa tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues by quantitative real-time PCR. To characterize the function of hsa_circ_0068871, BCa cell lines were stably infected with lentivirus targeting hsa_circ_0068871, followed by examinations of cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis. In addition, xenografts experiment in nude mice were performed to evaluate the effect of hsa_circ_0068871 in BCa. Biotinylated RNA probe pull-down assay, fluorescence in situ hybridization and luciferase reporter assay were conducted to confirm the relationship between hsa_circ_0068871, miR-181a-5p and FGFR3. Hsa_circ_0068871 is over-expressed in BCa tissues and cell lines, whereas miR-181a-5p expression is repressed. Depletion of has_circ_0068871 or upregulation of miR-181a-5p inhibited the proliferation and migration of BCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0068871 upregulated FGFR3 expression and activated STAT3 by targeting miR-181a-5p to promote BCa progression. Hsa_circ_0068871 regulates the miR-181a-5p/FGFR3 axis and activates STAT3 to promote BCa progression, and it may serve as a potential biomarker.