Open AccessCirc_0002623 promotes bladder cancer progression by regulating the miR‐1276/SMAD2 axis
Author(s) -
Zhang Zhaocun,
Zhao Haifeng,
Zhou Guanwen,
Han Ruoyan,
Sun Zhuang,
Zhong Minglei,
Jiang Xianzhou
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.15274
Subject(s) - cell growth , flow cytometry , cancer research , downregulation and upregulation , cell cycle , western blot , microrna , reporter gene , tumor progression , cell culture , bladder cancer , biology , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , chemistry , gene , gene expression , genetics
Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulatory factors in the development of multiple cancers. This study is targeted at exploring the effect of circ_0002623 on bladder cancer (BCa) progression and its mechanism. Circ_0002623 was screened out by analyzing the expression profile of circRNAs in BCa tissues. Circ_0002623, miR‐1276, and SMAD2 mRNA expression levels in clinical sample tissues and cell lines were detected through quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). After circ_0002623 had been overexpressed or silenced in BCa cells, the cell proliferation, migration, and cell cycle were evaluated by CCK‐8, BrdU, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Tumor xenograft model was used to validate the biological function of circ_0002623 in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis and dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay were conducted for analyzing and confirming, respectively, the targeted relationship between circ_0002623 and miR‐1276, as well as between miR‐1276 and SMAD2. The regulatory effects of circ_0002623 and miR‐1276 on the expression levels of TGF‐β, WNT1, and SMAD2 in BCa cells were detected by Western blot. We reported that, in BCa tissues and cell lines, circ_0002623 was upregulated, whereas miR‐1276 was downregulated. Circ_0002623 positively regulated BCa cell proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression. Additionally, circ_0002623 could competitively bind with miR‐1276 to increase the expression of SMAD2, the target gene of miR‐1276. Furthermore, circ_0002623 could regulate the expression of TGF‐β and WNT1 via modulating miR‐1276 and SMAD2. This study helps to better understand the molecular mechanism underlying BCa progression.