Circular RNA hsa_circ_0091579 facilitates the Warburg effect and malignancy of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the miR‑624/ H3F3B axis

• Y. Chen ^[1] ; S. Song ^[2] ; L. Zhang ^[3] ; Y. Zhang ^[4]
  1. [1] Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tengzhou Central People’s Hospital of Shandong Province, Tengzhou, Shandong, China
  2. [2] Department of Medical, Yantai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Antai, Shandong, China
  3. [3] Department of Hepatobiliary Vascular Surgery, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
  4. [4] The Operating Room, Zaozhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2666 Taihang Shan Road, Xuecheng District, Zaozhuang 277000, Shandong, China

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• Localización: Clinical & translational oncology, ISSN 1699-048X, Vol. 23, Nº. 11, 2021, págs. 2280-2292
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with a high mortality rate. It has been reported that circular RNA hsa_circ_0091579 (circ_0091579) is involved in HCC progression. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism by which circ_0091579 modulates HCC advancement is indistinct.

    Methods The expression of circ_0091579, microRNA (miR)-624, and H3 histone family member 3B (H3F3B) mRNA was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of HCC cells were analyzed using an extracellular flux analyzer. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level was evaluated using a commercial kit. Cell migration, invasion, and apoptosis were assessed by wound-healing, transwell, or flow cytometry assay. The relationship between miR-624 and circ_0091579 or H3F3B was verified using lucif- erase reporter assay and/or RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. H3F3B protein level was detected by western blotting.

    Results Circ_0091579 was upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Circ_0091579 inhibition decreased xenograft tumor growth in vivo and repressed Warburg effect, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro. MiR-624 was downregulated, while H3F3B was upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Circ_0091579 acted as a miR-624 sponge and regulated H3F3B expression by adsorbing miR-624. MiR-624 inhibitor reversed circ_0091579 downregulation-mediated effects on the Warburg effect and malignant behaviors of HCC cells. H3F3B overexpression reversed the repressive impact of miR-624 mimic on the Warburg effect and malignancy of HCC cells.

    Conclusions Circ_0091579 accelerated Warburg effect and tumor growth via upregulating H3F3B via adsorbing miR-624 in HCC, providing evidence to support the involvement of circ_0091579 in the progression of HCC.