CircRNA circ_SEC24A upregulates DNMT3A expression by sponging miR-26b-5p to aggravate osteoarthritis progression

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease characterized by degeneration and injury of articular cartilage. Circular RNA_SEC24A (circ_SEC24A; circBase ID: hsa_circ_0005105) is upregulated and promotes multiple tumor processes. However, its role in OA progression remained mostly unknown.

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the RNA expression of circ_SEC24A, miR-26b-5p and DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A). Cell proliferation was verified by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. Western blot was used to detect protein expression of DNMT3A, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (Collagen II and Aggrecan), and ECM degrading enzymes (matrix metalloproteinase-13 [MMP13] and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5 [ADAMTS5]). The target relationship between miR-26b-5p and circ_SEC24A or DNMT3A was predicted by Statbase3.0 or TargetScan and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation.

Circ_SEC24A was upregulated in osteoarthritic cartilage tissues and IL-1β-induced chondrocytes, accompanying with miR-26b-5p downregulation and DNMT3A upregulation. Circ_SEC24A expression was resistant to RNase R digestion and mainly expressed in the cytoplasm. Interfering circ_SEC24A abolished IL-1β-induced effects on proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, and ECM degradation in chondrocytes, but overexpressing circ_SEC24A had the opposite effects. Inhibiting miR-26b-5p counteracted but upregulating miR-26a-5p mimicked the functions of circ_SEC24A silencing. Reinforcing DNMT3A reversed miR-26b-5p overexpression's role in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Mechanically, circ_SEC24A and DNMT3A were competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) for miR-26b-5p.

Circ_SEC24A was a promoting factor for IL-1β-induced OA progression via circ_SEC24A/miR-26b-5p/DNMT3A ceRNA axis.