| Expression pattern: |
UP |
| Associated gene: |
TRAF4, Ago2 |
| Associated microRNA: |
miR-646 |
| Biological function: |
promotes HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis/tube formation and xenograft tumor growth; inhibits apoptosis |
| Molecular mechanism: |
circWDR37 acts as a miR-646 sponge to suppress miR-646 and up-regulate TRAF4 expression through a ceRNA mechanism |
| Biological pathway or process: |
proliferation (promotes); migration (promotes); invasion (promotes); apoptosis (inhibits); angiogenesis (promotes); metastasis (promotes); ceRNA regulation (promotes) |
| Detected method: |
Q
|
| Validation methods: |
Back-Splice Junction PCR / divergent primers PCR; RNase R Treatment; Sanger Sequencing; RT-qPCR; FISH / smFISH; Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Fractionation; Clinical Sample Validation; RIP (RNA Immunoprecipitation); Luciferase Reporter Assay; Transfection; CCK8; EdU Staining; Colony Formation Assay; Annexin V/PI Flow Cytometry; Transwell Assay; Tube Formation Assay; Western Blot; In Vivo Animal Model; IHC (Immunohistochemistry); Bioinformatics Analysis |
| Clinical significance: |
circWDR37 expression was increased in tumor tissues and positively correlated with the clinical stage of HCC patients |
| Description: |
circWDR37 is up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cells and is associated with more advanced clinical stage. Functionally, circWDR37 promotes malignant phenotypes including proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and xenograft tumor growth while suppressing apoptosis. Mechanistically, it acts as a ceRNA by sponging miR-646, thereby increasing TRAF4 expression and driving HCC progression. |
| Confidence score: |
0.8635 |