RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: A disintegrin and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 6 (ADAMTS6)-derived circular RNA (circADAMTS6; hsa_circ_0008667) is a novel regulator in interleukin (IL)-1ß-induced apoptosis of human chondrocytes (HCs). Here, we planned to probe into its role and mechanism underlying HCs injury in osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Real time-quantitative PCR and immunoblotting estimated the abundance of RNA and protein, respectively. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by WST-8, EdU, fluorescein isothiocyanate, and caspase3/7 activity assays. Levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α), apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-2-associated X protein), extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins (matrix metalloproteinase-13 and collagen type II alpha-1), and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins (AKT, mTOR, phosphorylated-AKT, and phosphorylated-mTOR) were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblotting. Target relationship was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter, Argonaute-2 immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays. RESULTS: Abundances of circADAMTS6 and phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 3 (PIK3R3) were underexpressed, and microRNA (miR)-324-5p was elevated in human osteoarthritic tissues and IL-1ß-induced HCs. Overexpressing circADAMTS6 and inhibiting miR-324-5p enhanced proliferation and ECM synthesis, but suppressed apoptosis and inflammatory response in IL-1ß-challenged HCs. Besides, silencing circADAMTS6 caused similar effects of IL-1ß stress on HCs. Mechanically, there was a direct interaction between miR-324-5p and circADAMTS6 or PIK3R3, and IL-1ß-induced activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was suppressed by circADAMTS6 overexpression and miR-324-5p silencing. Furthermore, counteractive effects of miR-324-5p upregulation on circADAMTS6 overexpression and PIK3R3 knockdown on miR-324-5p silencing were observed. CONCLUSION: CircADAMTS6-miR-324-5p-PIK3R3 axis might participate in IL-1ß-induced HCs dysfunction via competing endogenous RNA mechanism and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.