circICMT upregulates and suppresses the malignant behavior of bladder cancer
Xin Luo1, FangMei Xie2, Guoqiang Qin1
1Department of Urology, The Affiliated Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511400, PR China.
Background:
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a new type of endogenous single-stranded RNA with a covalently closed circular structure. Increasing evidence shows that circRNA plays an important role in regulating gene expression in tumors. circICMT is a circular RNA produced by the ICMT gene. Currently, the molecular function of circICMT in bladder cancer remains unclear.
Method:
Differentially expressed circRNAs were identified from RNA sequencing data and circICMT was identified as a new candidate circRNA. qRT-PCR and sanger sequencing were used to detect the expression of circICMT in bladder cancer tissue specimens. Stable cell lines overexpressing and knocking down circICMT were constructed to explore the effect of circICMT on bladder cancer cells. Its biological effects were detected through wound healing experiments, colony formation experiments, CCK-8 experiments and xenogeneic tumorigenesis experiments.
Result:
This study found that circICMT was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer tissue specimens. Overexpression of circICMT can inhibit cell migration, proliferation and colony formation ability, while knockdown of circICMT promotes the malignant phenotype of bladder cancer cells. Bioinformatics predictions have found that circICMT can bind to a variety of miRNAs and RBPs and may form a complex regulatory network to regulate the progression of bladder cancer.
Conclusion:
circICMT is significantly highly expressed in bladder cancer, and intervening circICMT expression affects the malignant phenotype of bladder cancer cells in vivo and in vitro, which may provide potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the management of bladder cancer.
Insights
Circular RNA Intron-Containing Methyltransferase (circICMT) is highly expressed in bladder cancer and inhibits tumor progression. Modulating circICMT affects cancer cell behavior, suggesting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel RNA molecules regulating gene expression in cancers.
- circICMT, derived from the ICMT gene, has an unclear role in bladder cancer.
- Understanding circICMT's function is crucial for bladder cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and molecular function of circICMT in bladder cancer.
- To determine if circICMT expression levels correlate with bladder cancer progression.
- To explore circICMT as a potential therapeutic target.
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing identified differentially expressed circRNAs, including circICMT.
- Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing validated circICMT expression in tumor tissues.
- Cellular assays (wound healing, colony formation, CCK-8) and xenograft models assessed circICMT's functional impact.
Main Results:
- circICMT was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer tissues.
- Overexpression of circICMT suppressed bladder cancer cell migration, proliferation, and colony formation.
- Knockdown of circICMT promoted the malignant phenotype of bladder cancer cells.
- Bioinformatics analysis suggested circICMT interacts with microRNAs and RNA-binding proteins, forming a regulatory network.
Conclusions:
- circICMT is highly expressed in bladder cancer and influences its malignant phenotype.
- Intervention of circICMT expression impacts bladder cancer cell behavior both in vitro and in vivo.
- circICMT represents a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for bladder cancer management.
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