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Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research

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Open Access 01-12-2019 | Research

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0068871 regulates FGFR3 expression and activates STAT3 by targeting miR-181a-5p to promote bladder cancer progression

Authors: Weipu Mao, Xin Huang, Longsheng Wang, Ziwei Zhang, Mengnan Liu, Yan Li, Ming Luo, Xudong Yao, Jie Fan, Jiang Geng

Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

FGFR3 plays an important role in the development of bladder cancer (BCa). Hsa_circ_0068871 is a circRNA generated from several exons of FGFR3. However, the potential functional role of hsa_circ_0068871 in BCa remains largely unknown. Here we aim to evaluate the role of hsa_circ_0068871 in BCa.

Methods

We selected miR-181a-5p as the potential target miRNA of hsa_circ_0068871. The expression levels of hsa_circ_0068871 and miR-181a-5p were examined in BCa tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues by quantitative real-time PCR. To characterize the function of hsa_circ_0068871, BCa cell lines were stably infected with lentivirus targeting hsa_circ_0068871, followed by examinations of cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis. In addition, xenografts experiment in nude mice were performed to evaluate the effect of hsa_circ_0068871 in BCa. Biotinylated RNA probe pull-down assay, fluorescence in situ hybridization and luciferase reporter assay were conducted to confirm the relationship between hsa_circ_0068871, miR-181a-5p and FGFR3.

Results

Hsa_circ_0068871 is over-expressed in BCa tissues and cell lines, whereas miR-181a-5p expression is repressed. Depletion of has_circ_0068871 or upregulation of miR-181a-5p inhibited the proliferation and migration of BCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0068871 upregulated FGFR3 expression and activated STAT3 by targeting miR-181a-5p to promote BCa progression.

Conclusions

Hsa_circ_0068871 regulates the miR-181a-5p/FGFR3 axis and activates STAT3 to promote BCa progression, and it may serve as a potential biomarker.

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Title: Circular RNA hsa_circ_0068871 regulates FGFR3 expression and activates STAT3 by targeting miR-181a-5p to promote bladder cancer progression
Authors: Weipu Mao
Xin Huang
Longsheng Wang
Ziwei Zhang
Mengnan Liu
Yan Li
Ming Luo
Xudong Yao
Jie Fan
Jiang Geng
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1756-9966
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-019-1136-9

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