Circ_0009910 Serves as miR-361-3p Sponge to Promote the Proliferation, Metastasis, and Glycolysis of Gastric Cancer via Regulating SNRPA.

Abstract

Circular RNA (circRNA) has been proved to be a key regulator of gastric cancer (GC) progression. Circ_0009910 was found to be highly expressed in GC and related to GC progression, but its role and mechanism in GC progression need to be further improved. Our study aims to further reveal circ_0009910 roles in GC progression and elucidate its potential molecular mechanism. The expression of circ_0009910, microRNA (miR)-361-3p, and small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide A (SNRPA) mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Protein expression was determined using western blot analysis. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated using EDU staining, transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Cell glycolysis were assessed by detecting glucose consumption, lactate production, and glycolysis-related markers protein expression. The relationship between miR-361-3p and circ_0009910 or SNRPA was confirmed by RNA pull-down assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. In vivo experiments were performed to explore the effect of circ_0009910 silencing on GC tumorigenesis. Circ_0009910 and SNRPA were upregulated in GC tumor tissues and cells. Knockdown of circ_0009910 or SNRPA could inhibit GC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, glycolysis, and promote apoptosis. Circ_0009910 could sponge miR-361-3p, and miR-361-3p could target SNRPA. Further experiments confirmed that circ_0009910 positively regulated SNRPA by sponging miR-361-3p. Additionally, SNRPA overexpression abolished the negative regulation of circ_0009910 silencing on GC progression. Furthermore, silenced circ_0009910 also reduced GC tumorigenesis in vivo. Our data showed that circ_0009910 might be a target for GC treatment, which could promote GC proliferation, metastasis, and glycolysis by the miR-361-3p/SNRPA axis.