CircRNA hsa_circ_0006220 acts as a tumor suppressor gene by regulating miR-197-5p/CDH19 in triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive breast cancer (BC) subtypes. Circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs) are a class of novel stable and conserved forms of ribonucleic acids (RNAs). circRNAs have been documented to be involved in multiple diseases, especially malignancies, through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism. However, few studies have been conducted on the function of circRNAs in TNBC. Previously, hsa_circ_0006220 was found to be downregulated in BC tissues. The present study sought to explore the mechanism of hsa_circ_0006220 in TNBC progression. METHODS: A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to validate the expression of hsa_circ_0006220 in TNBC tissues and cells. In addition, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), wound-healing and Transwell assays were conducted to measure the inhibition effects of hsa_circ_0006220 on TNBC cells in vitro. Further, a dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the interaction between hsa_circ_0006220 and miR-197-5p. A mimic and an inhibitor of miR-197-5p were constructed to confirm the downstream mechanism of hsa_circ_0006220 in TNBC cells. RESULTS: Hsa_circ_0006220 was more downregulated in TNBC than other subtypes of BC tissues and cell lines. In vitro data showed that hsa_circ_0006220 remarkably inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TNBC cells. Further, hsa_circ_0006220 was confirmed to be a sponge of miR-197-5p, and to indirectly regulate CDH19 expression. A rescue assay indicated the biological function of the hsa_circ_0006220/miR-197-5p/CDH19 pathway in TNBC cells. CONCLUSIONS: hsa_circ_0006220 plays an inhibitory role in TNBC progression. It might be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for TNBC patients.