Circ_0081054 facilitates melanoma development via sponging miR-637 and regulating RAB9A

Accumulating evidence announces that aberrantly expressed circRNAs were closely related to the development of human cancers. However, the role and mechanism of multiple circRNAs remain unclear. Our work aimed to disclose the functional role and mechanism of circ_0081054 in melanoma.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was utilized to detect circ_0081054, microRNA-637 (miR-637) and RAB9A (member RAS oncogene family) mRNA expression. Cell proliferative ability was evaluated via Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assay. Cell invasion was assessed by using wound healing assay.

The significant upregulation of circ_0081054 was detected in melanoma tissues and cells. The proliferation, migration, glycolytic metabolism, and angiogenesis in melanoma cells were suppressed, while apoptosis was promoted following the silence of circ_0081054. In addition, circ_0081054 could target miR-637, and miR-637 inhibitor could reverse the effects of circ_0081054 deficiency. Furthermore, RAB9A was a target gene for miR-637 and RAB9A overexpression could reverse the effects of miR-637 overexpression. In addition, the deficiency of circ_0081054 hampered tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, circ_0081054 could regulate RAB9A expression by sponging miR-637.

All results indicated that circ_0081054 promoted the malignant behaviors of melanoma cells partly by regulating the miR-637/RAB9A molecular axis.