%0 Journal Article
%T CircRNA has_circ_0017109 promotes lung tumor progression via activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling due to modulating miR-671-5p/FZD4 axis.
%A Yang B
%A Zhang B
%A Qi Q
%A Wang C
%J BMC Pulm Med
%V 22
%N 1
%D Nov 2022 24
%M 36434577
%F 3.32
%R 10.1186/s12890-022-02209-2
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Accumulating evidence highlights the critical roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the malignant progression of cancers. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of a newly identified circRNA (hsa_circ_0017109) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and examined its downstream molecular targets.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) were conducted to quantify gene and protein expression. In vitro functional assays such as colony formation assay, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry were used to study cell proliferation and apoptosis. RNA pull-down assay, luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation were performed to validate molecular interaction. Mouse xenograft model of NSCLC cells was used to assess the role of circ_0017109 in tumorigenesis.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Circ_0017109 was upregulated in NSCLC tumor samples and cells. Silencing circ_0017109 impaired cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in NSCLC cells, and circ_0017109 knockdown suppressed in vivo tumorigenesis of NSCLC cells in mouse xenograft model. MiR-671-5p was identified as a target of circ_0017109, and circ_0017109 negatively impacted on miR-671-5p expression. MiR-671-5p downregulated FZD4 and dampened the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Circ_0017109 modulated FZD4 expression by suppressing miR-671-5p activity.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Elevated circ_0017109 expression promotes tumor progression of NSCLC by modulating miR-671-5p/FZD4/β-catenin axis.