| Expression pattern: |
UP |
| Associated gene: |
VEGFA, HuR, ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin, AGO2 |
| Associated microRNA: |
miR-150-5p |
| Biological function: |
Promotes angiogenesis and vascular permeability, facilitates pre-metastatic niche formation, and enhances distant metastasis and ESCC progression. |
| Molecular mechanism: |
Exosomal Circ-ZNF609 acts as a ceRNA sponge for miR-150-5p to activate VEGFA; it also binds HuR and inhibits HuR association with ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin mRNAs, reducing their translation and disrupting endothelial tight junctions. |
| Biological pathway or process: |
angiogenesis (promotes); migration (promotes); invasion (promotes); proliferation (promotes); metastasis (promotes); ceRNA regulation (promotes) |
| Detected method: |
Q
M
|
| Validation methods: |
Microarray; RT-qPCR; Back-Splice Junction PCR / divergent primers PCR; Sanger Sequencing; RNase R Treatment; Actinomycin D / DRB Stability Assay; Transfection; Colony Formation Assay; Transwell Assay; Tube Formation Assay; RIP (RNA Immunoprecipitation); RNA Pull-Down; Luciferase Reporter Assay; Western Blot; IF (Immunofluorescence); In Vivo Animal Model; H&E Staining |
| Clinical significance: |
- |
| Description: |
Hypoxia increases Circ-ZNF609 levels in ESCC-derived exosomes, which are taken up by HUVECs. Exosomal Circ-ZNF609 promotes angiogenesis and vascular leakiness to support pre-metastatic niche formation and ESCC progression, via sponging miR-150-5p to increase VEGFA and via binding HuR to suppress translation of tight-junction mRNAs (ZO-1/Claudin-1/Occludin). |
| Confidence score: |
0.7937 |