Hsa_circ_0013729 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression by Regulating MEF2D in ceRNA- and RBP- Dependent Manners

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as major regulatory factors in gastric cancer progression. Here, in addition to the regulatory role of hsa_circ_0013729, we also evaluated its biomarker potential in gastric cancer. RNA-Seq profiles were obtained from GSE194384 and GSE184882. 116 gastric cancer specimens and adjacent para- tumor gastric tissues were analyzed for the expression of hsa_circ_0013729. The functional (proliferative, migratory, and invasive) significance of hsa_circ_0013729 was evaluated by cell experiments. The competing theories of endogenous RNAs and RNA-binding proteins were used to explore the underlying mechanism. Analyses of GSE194384 and GSE184882 identified hsa_circ_0013729 as a dysregulated circRNA in gastric cancer. The quantification of hsa_circ_0013729 in our patient cohort revealed its upregulation, diagnostic significance (ROC-AUC = 0.94, 95% confidence interval: 0.9149 to 0.9718; p < 0.0001), and prognostic value with a hazard ratio of 2.65 in gastric cancer. Hsa_circ_0013729 was identified as a potential driver in gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Hsa_circ_0013729 acted as a ceRNA for miR-361-3p and interfered with the binding between miR-361-3p and MEF2D. Hsa_circ_0013729 interacted with HNRNPIL1 to stabilize MEF2D mRNA.Hsa_circ_0013729 may promote gastric cancer via the miR-361-3p/MEF2D axis and HNRNPUL1/MEF2D axis, showing potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.