Abstract
To investigate the expression characteristics, functional roles, and regulatory mechanisms of circPSMA4 via miR-767-3p/HIF1A in bladder cancer. The expression and in vitro functionality of circPSMA4 in T24 bladder cancer cell lines were analyzed using RNase R treatment, actinomycin D stability assay, nucleocytoplasmic separation, real-time quantitative PCR, Western blot, dual-luciferase reporter assay, cellular energy metabolism analysis, scratch assay, Transwell migration and invasion assay, CCK-8 proliferation assay, lactate and glucose uptake detection, and ATP production measurement. Further, the in vivo roles of circPSMA4 were validated through the construction of stable cell lines and tumor xenograft assays in nude mice. CircPSMA4 was identified as a circular RNA highly expressed in bladder cancer cells, directly interacting with miR-767-3p. CircPSMA4 functions as a miR-767-3p sponge, regulating miR-767-3p to influence the expression of HIF1A, thereby promoting the proliferation, migration, invasion, and metabolic activities of bladder cancer cells, as well as tumor formation. CircPSMA4 facilitates the proliferation, migration, invasion, and metabolism of bladder cancer cells through the miR-767-3p/HIF1A pathway.