Circ_0008068 facilitates the oral squamous cell carcinoma development by microRNA-153-3p/acylgycerol kinase (AGK) axis.

ABSTRACT

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common cancer with high recurrence, metastasis rates and poor prognosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) take part in regulating OSCC. Herein, we examined the role of circ_0008068 in OSCC. The circ_0008068, Katanin p60 ATPase-containing subunit A-like 1 (KATNAL1) mRNA, microRNA-153-3p (miR-153-3p) and acylgycerol kinase (AGK) contents were indicated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo assays were conducted to scrutinize the effects of circ_0008068 on OSCC. Additionally, the contact between miR-153-3p and circ_0008068 or AGK was assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Thereafter, we found that the appearance of circ_0008068 and AGK was increased, and miR-153-3p content was diminished in OSCC. Circ_0008068 lack subdued cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation and glycolysis metabolism, but stimulated cell apoptosis in OSCC. In addition, circ_0008068 bound to miR-153-3p to modulate the expression of its target AGK. Besides, miR-153-3p was validated to act as a tumor suppressor in OSCC tumorigenesis by suppressing AGK. Additionally, circ_0008068 knockdown also attenuated tumor growth in nude mice. In all, circ_0008068 expedited the growth of OSCC by miR-153-3p/AGK axis.Abbreviations OSCC Oral squamous cell carcinoma; AGK Acylgycerol kinase; CircRNA Circular RNA; KATNAL1 Katanin p60 ATPase-containing subunit A-like 1; qRT-PCR Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; miRNAs/miRs MicroRNAs; RIP RNA immunoprecipitation; 3'UTR3' -untranslated region; HK2 Hexokinase 2; LDHA Lactate dehydrogenase A; IHC Immunohistochemistry; CCK8 Cell counting kit-8; GAPDH Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.