Open AccessCircular RNA hsa_circ_0072309 inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells via inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling by activating PPARγ/PTEN signaling
Author(s) -
Xingpo Guo,
Mingde Qin,
Hong Han,
Xiaofeng Xue,
Jian Fang,
Linhua Jiang,
Yuting Kuang,
Ling Gao
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
molecular medicine reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.727
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1791-3004
pISSN - 1791-2997
DOI - 10.3892/mmr.2021.11988
Subject(s) - pten , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , protein kinase b , cancer research , cell growth , biology , oncogene , cell migration , signal transduction , cancer , cell cycle , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , genetics
Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor in the digestive system, which presents without specific symptoms. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in tumor progression and cellular functions; however, the relationship between GC and hsa_circ_0072309 remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of hsa_circ_0072309 and the role that hsa_circ_0072309 plays in proliferation, invasion and migration of GC cells. The expression of hsa_circ_0072309 was evaluated using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. A series of functional experiments were performed to study the role that hsa_circ_0072309 has in survival and metastasis of GC cells. In the present study, hsa_circ_0072309 was downregulated in GC cell lines and its overexpression inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells. In addition, hsa_circ_0072309 overexpression induced activation of the peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/PTEN pathway and inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling. Moreover, pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, strengthened the effects of abundant hsa_circ_0072309 on the proliferative, migratory and invasive capabilities of GC cells, while GW9662, a PPARγ antagonist, abolished the effects of hsa_circ_0072309 overexpression on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The present findings suggested that hsa_circ_0072309 inhibited proliferation, invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells via the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling by activating the PPARγ/PTEN signaling pathway. Targeting hsa_circ_0072309 may be an innovative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GC.