Up-regulation of circular RNA hsa_circ_01844 induces apoptosis and suppresses proliferation and migration of glioblastoma cells

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that various circular RNAs are involved in the malignant proliferation of cancers, such as liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and others. The potential role of circular RNAs in glioblastoma, however, is still uncertain. In this study, we aimed to study the potential role of hsa_circ_01844 in glioblastoma. METHODS: Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, hsa_circ_01844 expression was measured in five glioblastoma samples and five normal brain samples. To evaluate the potential function of hsa_circ_01844 in glioblastoma, hsa_circ_01844 was overexpressed in glioblastoma cell lines (U251 and U87 cells). Using these two cell lines, in vitro experiments including the flow cytometry assay, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, Transwell assay, and cell apoptosis assay were performed to investigate the role of hsa_circ_01844 in glioblastoma. Student t test and one-way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The expression of circular RNA hsa_circ_01844 was lower in glioblastoma tissues when compared with the normal brain tissues by RT-PCR method (0.034 ± 0.036 vs. 1.630 ± 0.891, P < 0.001). Using two glioblastoma cell lines, we found that overexpression of hsa_circ_01844 in glioblastoma cells suppressed their proliferation, colony formation, migration, and increased the apoptotic rate compared with empty vector group and blank control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hsa_circ_01844 shows decreased expression in glioblastoma and its overexpression induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioblastoma cells.