Published online Jan 15, 2023. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i1.76
Peer-review started: September 28, 2022
First decision: October 21, 2022
Revised: November 1, 2022
Accepted: December 21, 2022
Article in press: December 21, 2022
Published online: January 15, 2023
Processing time: 103 Days and 22 Hours
According to reports, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have a major role in cancer biology. Some circRNAs have been reported to function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in colorectal cancer (CRC).
To further clarify the function of circRNAs for the development of CRC.
This paper aims to clarify the expression pattern, biological function, and underlying mechanism of circ_0001658 of CRC tumorigenesis.
A series of in vitro experiments were performed. CircRNA expression profile using the GEO database was analyzed, and circRNAs with differential expression in CRC and normal tissue samples were detected. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed for the analysis of the expression of circ_0001658, miR-590-5p, and methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) mRNA expression levels in tissues and cells. Using Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and the cell cycle were observed and studied. The targeting relations between circ_0001658, miR-590-5p, and METTL3 mRNA 3'UTR were under the verification of bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter gene assay.
circ_0001658 is significantly expressed in CRC tissues and cell lines. It enhances cancer cells' malignant biological activities, including proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, and cell cycle progression, via repressing miR-590-5p and up-regulating METTL3.
circ_0001658 is an oncogenic circRNA in CRC, and it works as an endogenous RNA that competes with miR-590-5p and METTL3.
circ_0001658 may have the potential to give and employ a therapeutic target and diagnostic biomarker for CRC.