| Expression pattern: |
DN |
| Associated gene: |
NFATC3, JNK, c-Jun, AKT, mTOR |
| Associated microRNA: |
hsa-miR-548I |
| Biological function: |
circNFATC3 functions as a tumor suppressor in HCC; its overexpression inhibits hepatoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor formation and lung metastasis, and promotes apoptosis. |
| Molecular mechanism: |
circNFATC3 acts as a ceRNA and miR-548I sponge to protect and upregulate NFATC3, thereby inhibiting phosphorylation of the JNK/c-Jun/AKT/mTOR cascade. |
| Biological pathway or process: |
proliferation (inhibits); apoptosis (promotes); migration (inhibits); invasion (inhibits); metastasis (inhibits); PI3K/AKT/mTOR (inhibits); ceRNA regulation (promotes); cell cycle (other); other pathway/process (inhibits) |
| Detected method: |
Q
|
| Validation methods: |
Back-Splice Junction PCR / divergent primers PCR; RNase R Treatment; Sanger Sequencing; RT-qPCR; Clinical Sample Validation; RNA-seq; Bioinformatics Analysis; Luciferase Reporter Assay; RNA Pull-Down; Transfection; MTT; Annexin V/PI Flow Cytometry; Transwell Assay; In Vivo Animal Model; Western Blot |
| Clinical significance: |
circNFATC3 may be a tumor suppressor and candidate biomarker for early diagnosis of HCC; higher circNFATC3 expression is significantly related to smaller tumor size and may predict a better result for HCC patients. |
| Description: |
circNFATC3 is downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines and acts as a tumor suppressor. It sponges miR-548I to protect/upregulate its host gene NFATC3, suppressing JNK/c-Jun/AKT/mTOR phosphorylation and thereby inhibiting proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor growth and metastasis while promoting apoptosis. The study suggests circNFATC3 may serve as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target for HCC. |
| Confidence score: |
0.8275 |