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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Hepatocellular Carcinoma | Primary research
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Circ-DENND4C up-regulates TCF4 expression to modulate hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and apoptosis via activating Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway
Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2020
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Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor in China.
Advanced treatment like transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has
prolonged the lives of many HCC patients. However, the prognosis of most HCC patients
remains unsatisfactory. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been gradually
unveiled to exert considerable functions in cancer. Promising circRNAs in HCC remains
to be further elucidated.
Methods
Gene expression was assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot. The function
of circ-DENND4C in HCC was estimated by both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The
location of circ-DENND4C in HCC cells was determined by subcellular fractionation and
FISH assays. The association among molecules were analyzed through RNA pull down, RIP
and luciferase reporter assays.
Results
circ-DENND4C (DENN domain containing 4C), an oncogene identified in
breast cancer, was overexpressed in HCC cells. Also, circ-DENND4C exerted pro-tumor
functions in HCC through activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Importantly, circ-DENND4C
could augment transcription factor 4 (TCF4) expression to activate Wnt/β-catenin
signaling via sequestering miR-195-5p. Moreover, following rescue assays disclosed
that circ-DENND4C mediated malignant phenotypes in HCC cells via up-regulating TCF4
through sponging miR-195-5p.
Conclusion
circ-DENND4C boosted TCF4 expression to modulate malignant behaviors of
HCC cells via activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which might offer a promising target
for HCC treatment.