CircHMGCS1 Activates the NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Promotes Proliferation and Invasion in Cervical Cancer Cells / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

ABSTRACT

Circular RNAs play an important role in tumorigenesis. In this study, we explored the role of aberrant expression of circHMGCS1 in cervical cancer cells with TNF-α treatment. RT-qPCR assays showed that circHMGCS1 was highly expressed after TNF-α treatment. And then we investigated the cyclization and stabilization of circHMGCS1 by RNase R and half-life analysis. We further revealed that overexpression of circHMGCS1 promoted the malignancy of cervical cancer cells and the expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers by Transwell analysis, MTT, clone formation and Western blotting. Furthermore, we found that circHMGCS1 activated the NF-κB signaling pathway. Altogether, this study provides an experimental basis for elucidating the role of circHMGCS1 in cervical cancer cells, and provides a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer.