Hsa_circular RNA_0001013 exerts oncogenic effects in gastric cancer through the microRNA-136-TWSG1 axis.

backgroundGastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading malignancies of the digestive system. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are well-established to play critical regulatory roles in GC development. The current study sought to explore the effects and regulatory mechanism of circ_0001013 in the course of GC.

methodsFirst, differential circRNAs and related mechanisms in GC were predicted by microarray analysis. Circ_0001013, microRNA (miR)-136, and TWSG1 expression patterns were subsequently detected in GC clinical samples and cells using RT-qPCR. The relationship among circ_0001013, miR-136, and TWSG1 was further assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, biotin-coupled probe pull-down assay, and biotin-coupled miRNA capture. Based on gain- and loss-of-function assays, GC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and the cell cycle and apoptosis were also measured by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, scratch test, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Moreover, the effect of circ_0001013 on tumor growth was detected by tumor xenografting in nude mice.

resultsCirc_0001013 was predicted to be up-regulated in GC by microarray profiling, which was confirmed by RT-qPCR detection in GC tissues and cells. miR-136 was poorly expressed, and TWSG1 was highly expressed in GC tissues. Mechanistically, circ_0001013 bound to miR-136, which negatively targeted

conclusionCollectively, our findings indicated that circ_0001013 increased TWSG1 expression by binding to miR-136, thereby exerting oncogenic effects in GC.