1. Academic Validation
  2. Circular RNA EPHA3 suppresses progression and metastasis in prostate cancer through the miR-513a-3p/BMP2 axis

Circular RNA EPHA3 suppresses progression and metastasis in prostate cancer through the miR-513a-3p/BMP2 axis

  • J Transl Med. 2023 Apr 28;21(1):288. doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-04132-4.
Huan Feng 1 2 3 Zhiyao Deng 1 2 3 Wei Peng 1 2 Xian Wei 4 Jihong Liu 1 2 Tao Wang 5 6 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
  • 2 Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
  • 3 Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
  • 4 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
  • 5 Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. twang@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
  • 6 Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. twang@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
  • 7 Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. twang@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
Abstract

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) may regulate the onset and progression of human malignancies by competitively binding to MicroRNA (miRNA) sponges, thus regulating the downstream genes. However, aberrant circRNA expression patterns and their biological functions in prostate Cancer (PCa) warrant further studies. Our research sought to shed further LIGHT on the possible role and molecular mechanism of circEPHA3 action in controlling the growth and metastasis of PCa cells.

Materials and methods: circEPHA3 (has_circ_0066596) was initially screened from a previous circRNA microarray and identified following Actinomycin D and RNase R assays. Fluorescence in situ hybridization, biotin-coupled probe RNA pulldown, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to examine the relationship between circEPHA3 and miR-513a-3p. The biological role of circEPHA3 in PCa was assessed by CCK8, wound healing, Transwell assays, and animal experiments.

Results: We identified a novel circular RNA, circEPHA3 (has_circ_0066596), which was down-regulated in high-grade PCa tissues and cell lines. The outcomes of CCK8, wound healing, Transwell assays, and animal experiments revealed that circEPHA3 prohibited the progression and metastasis of PCa in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, circEPHA3 was directly bound to miR-513a-3p and regulated the downstream gene, BMP2, thereby serving as a tumor suppressor in PCa.

Conclusions: As a tumor suppressor, circEPHA3 inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of PCa cells through the miR-513a-3p/BMP2 axis, suggesting that circEPHA3 might be a potential therapeutic target for PCa.

Keywords

BMP2; Metastasis; Progression; Prostate cancer; circEPHA3; miR-513a-3p.

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