Overexpression of circFNDC3B promotes the progression of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma through the miR-1322/MED1 axis

Head Neck. 2022 Nov;44(11):2417-2427. doi: 10.1002/hed.27152. Epub 2022 Aug 2.

Abstract

Background: The potential role of circFNDC3B in regulating oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma development (OTSCC) remains unknown.

Methods: The level of circFNDC3B in OTSCC tissues or cell lines was measured and its function in vitro and in vivo was analyzed. Interactions among circFNDC3B, miR-1322, and MED1 were verified by luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays.

Results: The level of circFNDC3B in tissues or cell lines of OTSCC was higher than that in control groups. siRNA-mediated circFNDC3B inhibition resulted in weakened proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was reversed by miR-1322. Overexpression of MED1 in OTSCC cells partially reversed the tumor suppression functions of si-circFNDC3B or miR-1322 mimics in vitro. circFNDC3B overexpression dramatically promoted tumor growth in vivo. circFNDC3B directly bound with miR-1322 and consequently promoted the MED1 expression in OTSCC cells.

Conclusions: The circFNDC3B/miR-1322/MED1 axis participates in OTSCC progression, which may provide novel therapeutic targets for OTSCC.

Keywords: MED1; OTSCC; circFNDC3B; miR-1322.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Fibronectins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Mediator Complex Subunit 1 / genetics
  • Mediator Complex Subunit 1 / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • RNA, Circular* / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck* / genetics
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck* / pathology
  • Tongue Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Tongue Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • FNDC3B protein, human
  • Fibronectins
  • MED1 protein, human
  • MIRN1322 microRNA, human
  • Mediator Complex Subunit 1
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Circular
  • RNA, Small Interfering