Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

In Vitro Cultivation Techniques for Modeling Liver Organogenesis, Building Assembloids, and Designing Synthetic Tissues using Human Cell Lines
Published on: April 18, 2025
Circular Circ_0001387 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via miR-4324/MCM6 Axis and Cell Cycle Pathway
1Laboratory Department of Hefei First People's Hospital, Hefei, China.
Introduction:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) carries a poor prognosis, and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are pivotal in its biology. This study aimed to investigate the role of a novel circRNA, circ_0001387, in HCC pathophysiology.
Methods:
A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis was identified via bioinformatics analysis of GEO databases. Functional assays included qRT-PCR, CCK-8, wound healing, transwell, flow cytometry for apoptosis/cell cycle, and western blot for protein detection (CDK4, c-Myc, CyclinD1, GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, MCM6). in vivo tumor growth was assessed in nude mouse xenografts. Interactions were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays.
Results:
Circ_0001387 and MCM6 were upregulated in HCC tissues and cells, while miR-4324 was downregulated. Overexpression of circ_0001387 promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth in vivo, while inhibiting apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Knockdown produced opposite effects. Mechanistically, circ_0001387 directly sponged miR-4324, which targeted MCM6. Rescue experiments confirmed that miR-4324 inhibition or MCM6 overexpression reversed the effects of circ_0001387 knockdown, whereas MCM6 silencing offset miR-4324 knockdown.
Discussion:
Our findings delineate a novel oncogenic axis in which circ_0001387 drives HCC progression by sequestering miR-4324 to elevate MCM6 expression. This pathway underscores the significant regulatory role of circRNAs in HCC and aligns with emerging evidence of competing endogenous RNA networks in cancer. Study limitations include the need for further clinical validation of this axis as a biomarker.
Conclusion:
Circ_0001387 facilitates HCC progression via the miR-4324/MCM6 axis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for HCC intervention.
Related Concept Videos
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Abnormal Proliferation
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
