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circSMAD2 inhibits the epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting miR-629 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Xianwei Zhang1, Ping Luo1, Wei Jing1

  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.

Oncotargets and Therapy
|May 31, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Circular RNA SMAD2 (circSMAD2) is downregulated in liver cancer and inhibits tumor cell migration and invasion. It achieves this by targeting microRNA-629 (miR-629), suppressing its expression and thus hindering cancer progression.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Non-coding RNA Research

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules with emerging roles in biological processes.
  • Recent research highlights the involvement of circRNAs in the progression of various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of circRNA SMAD2 (circSMAD2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of circSMAD2 in regulating HCC progression, specifically its interaction with microRNA-629 (miR-629).

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to measure circSMAD2 expression in HCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues.
  • In vitro assays (proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, Western blot) to assess circSMAD2's biological function.
  • Dual-luciferase reporter assay and co-transfection experiments to validate the interaction between circSMAD2 and miR-629 and their roles in HCC.

Main Results:

  • circSMAD2 expression was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues and associated with HCC differentiation.
  • Overexpression of circSMAD2 inhibited HCC cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • circSMAD2 directly targets and suppresses miR-629 expression in HCC cells, and this interaction is crucial for circSMAD2's tumor-suppressive effects.

Conclusions:

  • circSMAD2 acts as a tumor suppressor in HCC by inhibiting cell migration, invasion, and EMT.
  • The mechanism involves the direct targeting of miR-629 by circSMAD2, leading to the suppression of miR-629 activity.
Keywords:
circSMAD2circular RNAepithelial–mesenchymal transitionhepatocellular carcinomamicroRNA-629

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