Downregulating circRNA_0044516 Inhibits Cell Proliferation in Gastric Cancer Through miR-149/Wnt1/β-catenin Pathway.
BACKGROUND
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). The Wnt1/β-catenin pathway can promote the proliferation of GC cells. This study aimed to explore whether circRNA_0044516 can regulate the proliferation of GC cells by modulating the Wnt1/β-catenin pathway.


METHODS
The expression of circRNA_0044516, miR-149, Wnt1, and β-catenin in GC tissues or cells was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays, respectively. The interaction between circRNA_0044516 and miR-149 was determined by luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays.


RESULTS
Upregulated circRNA_0044516 was found in GC tissues and cell lines. Downregulating circRNA_0044516 inhibited the viability and promoted apoptosis of GC cells. CircRNA_0044516 targeted miR-149, and its downregulation elevated miR-149 level in GC cells. Mechanistically, silencing circRNA_0044516 reduced the protein level of Wnt1 and β-catenin through miR-149, and finally suppressed viability and contributed to apoptosis of GC cells. Moreover, circRNA_0044516 knockdown inhibited the tumor growth of HGC-27 cells in nude mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated an important role of circRNA_0044516 in GC and elucidated that downregulation of circRNA_0044516 inhibits the proliferation of GC cells through miR-149/Wnt1/β-catenin.
['Fang|Jun|J|', 'Chen|Wei|W|', 'Meng|Xiangling|X|']
D000818:Animals D045744:Cell Line, Tumor D049109:Cell Proliferation D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic D051379:Mice D008819:Mice, Nude D035683:MicroRNAs D000079962:RNA, Circular D013274:Stomach Neoplasms D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway D051155:Wnt1 Protein D051176:beta Catenin
CircRNA_0044516 Cell proliferation Gastric cancer miR-149 Wnt1