Hsa_circ_0048674 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression and natural killer cell exhaustion depending on the regulation of miR-223-3p/PDL1.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to explore the functions of hsa_circ_0048674 in HCC development. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was used to detect hsa_circ_0048674, ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1), microRNA-223-3p (miR-223-3p) and programmed death ligand 1 (PDL1). RNase R assay and Actinomycin D assay were employed to analyze the stability of hsa_circ_0048674. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay and 5-ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EdU) assay were conducted to assess cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis, transwell assay and tube formation assay were carried out for cell apoptosis, migration, invasion and angiogenesis, respectively. Western blot assay was adopted for protein levels. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to analyze the relationship between miR-223-3p and hsa_circ_0048674 or PDL1. Murine xenograft model assay was conducted for the function of hsa_circ_0048674 in vivo. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was used to detect Ki-67 level in tumor tissues. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were employed for the concentrations of inflammatory factors. Hsa_circ_0048674 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells. Silencing of hsa_circ_0048674 repressed cell growth, migration, invasion and angiogenesis and promoted apoptosis in HCC cells in vitro and hampered tumor growth in vivo. Hsa_circ_0048674 served as an miR-223-3p sponge to alter PDL1 expression. MiR-223-3p inhibition or PDL1 overexpression restored the impacts of hsa_circ_0048674 silencing on HCC malignant behaviors. In addition, hsa_circ_0048674 knockdown promoted natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity to HCC cells. Hsa_circ_0048674 knockdown decelerated HCC progression through the mediation of the miR-223-3p/PDL1 axis.