Abstract
PURPOSE: Prevailing evidences have demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely associated with various stages of carcinogenesis. However, very few studies have delineated the specific mechanism of association between circRNAs and osteosarcoma (OS). It offers a novel insight that circRNAs can be explored as a potential therapeutic strategy for OS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, circTUBGCP3 was chosen from the existing reported circRNA microarray data obtained from OS cell lines and normal bone cells. Subsequently, qRT-PCR was performed to evaluate the expression level of circTUBGCP3 in OS samples and cell lines. Functional assays were conducted to estimate the impact of circTUBGCP3 on human OS cells proliferation, vitality, survivability, and migration. Western blot, luciferase reporter and in vivo tumorigenesis assays were performed to analyze the signaling pathways underlying the interaction of circTUBGCP3, miR-30b, and Vimentin. RESULTS: The data indicate that circTUBGCP3 may act as a sponge of miR-30b that further alters the expression of Vimentin, and promotes the proliferation and metastatic properties of OS cells. CONCLUSION: circTUBGCP3 serves as a tumor promoter in tumorigenesis by increasing the possibilities of OS initiation and proliferation.