circELMOD3 increases and stabilizes TRIM13 by sponging miR-6864-5p and direct binding to inhibit HCC progression

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis.
• Understanding the role of specific circRNAs, like circELMOD3, is crucial for HCC diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the diagnostic value, functional roles, and underlying mechanisms of circELMOD3 in hepatocellular carcinoma.
• To explore circELMOD3 as a potential non-invasive biomarker for HCC detection.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in HCC tissues.
• Quantitative real-time PCR and plasma assays for circELMOD3 detection.
• In vitro and in vivo functional assays to assess proliferation and apoptosis.
• RNA antisense purification (RAP) and luciferase reporter assays to elucidate molecular mechanisms.

Main Results:

• circELMOD3 was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues and correlated with clinicopathological features.
• Plasma circELMOD3 demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity as a biomarker for distinguishing HCC from healthy controls.
• circELMOD3 overexpression suppressed HCC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo.
• circELMOD3 acts as a molecular sponge for miR-6864-5p, upregulating TRIM13 expression and stabilizing its mRNA.
• circELMOD3, via TRIM13, co-activates the p53 signaling pathway.

Conclusions:

• circELMOD3 is a potential non-invasive diagnostic biomarker for HCC.
• circELMOD3 functions as a tumor suppressor in HCC by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis.
• The circELMOD3/miR-6864-5p/TRIM13/p53 axis represents a novel therapeutic target for HCC.