| Expression pattern: |
UP |
| Associated gene: |
FAP, IL-6 |
| Associated microRNA: |
miR-329-5p |
| Biological function: |
Promotes fibroblast activation (NF-to-CAF transition), enhances fibroblast proliferation and contraction, and promotes NSCLC cell migration/invasion, tumor growth and metastasis. |
| Molecular mechanism: |
Acts as a ceRNA: circNOX4 sponges miR-329-5p to upregulate FAP, which increases IL-6 secretion and establishes an inflammatory fibroblast niche promoting NSCLC progression/metastasis. |
| Biological pathway or process: |
migration (promotes); invasion (promotes); metastasis (promotes); proliferation (promotes); inflammation (promotes); EMT (promotes); ceRNA regulation (promotes) |
| Detected method: |
Q
H
M
|
| Validation methods: |
Microarray; RT-qPCR; FISH / smFISH; Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Fractionation; RNase R Treatment; Back-Splice Junction PCR / divergent primers PCR; Sanger Sequencing; Luciferase Reporter Assay; RIP (RNA Immunoprecipitation); Transfection; CCK8; Transwell Assay; Wound Healing Assay; Western Blot; ELISA; In Vivo Animal Model; IHC (Immunohistochemistry); H&E Staining; Bioinformatics Analysis; Clinical Sample Validation; Cohort Study; Survival Analysis |
| Clinical significance: |
High circNOX4 expression correlates with distant metastasis and shorter overall survival; it is an independent prognostic factor in NSCLC. |
| Description: |
circNOX4 is a CAF-enriched circRNA in NSCLC that drives NF-to-CAF activation and enhances pro-metastatic functions. It acts in the cytoplasm as a ceRNA sponging miR-329-5p to increase FAP, which elevates IL-6 secretion and promotes tumor growth and metastasis; high circNOX4 is associated with poor patient survival. |
| Confidence score: |
0.8846 |