Abstract
Background: Triglyceride (TG) metabolism and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), but their interconnections remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the role of hsa_circ_0041150 (circ_0041150) in metabolic mechanism and PAAD progression. Methods: RNA/protein levels were detected by qRT-PCR/Western blot. Cell proliferation was evaluated using CCK-8 and EdU assays. TG accumulation was assessed via BODIPY 493/503 staining and a commercial TG assay kit. Interactions among circ_0041150, miR-1178-3p, and AADAC mRNA were analyzed via bioinformatics tools, RNA pull-down, dual-luciferase reporter, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Results: circ_0041150 was downregulated in PAAD tissues and cell lines, and its expression correlated with key clinicopathological features of PAAD. Mechanistically, circ_0041150 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-1178-3p, thereby upregulating AADAC expression, and inhibiting TG accumulation and PAAD cell proliferation. Knockdown of circ_0041150 promoted proliferation and TG accumulation, and these effects were partially reversed by miR-1178-3p inhibition or AADAC overexpression. Conclusion: circ_0041150 regulates AADAC by sponging miR-1178-3p, inhibiting PAAD progression and TG accumulation, and providing diagnostic and therapeutic targets via the circ_0041150/miR-1178-3p/AADAC axis. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12672-026-04577-1.