Circular RNA circ_0068464 combined with microRNA-383 regulates Wnt/β-catenin pathway to promote the progression of colorectal cancer

This study was to clarify the influence and mechanism of circular RNA hsa_circ_0068464 (circ_0068464) on the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). First, we combined bioinformatics analysis and the high-throughput sequencing to determine the expression profile of circRNAs in CRC dataset, and screened out the differentially expressed circ_0068464. Subsequently, qRT-PCR was utilized to measure circ_0068464 expression in CRC and normal cancer-adjacent tissues, CRC cell lines (SW480, SW620, HT29, LS174T and HCT116) and human fetal intestinal epithelial cell (FHC). The results revealed that circ_0068464 was abnormally up-regulated in CRC cells and tissues. Knockdown of circ_0068464 could inhibit CRC cell migration and proliferation and promoted apoptosis while suppressing the expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins (β-catenin, cyclin D1, C-myc and LEF-1). In addition, tumorigenic assays in nude mice confirmed that circ_0068464 downregulation significantly inhibited tumor growth and lung metastasis. Further, the binding interaction between circ_0068464 and microRNA-383 (miR-383) was verified by dual-luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. And miR-383 was significantly down-regulated in CRC tissues and cells. Interfering with miR-383 expression reversed the inhibitory effect of circ_0068464 knockdown on CRC cells. In conclusion, circ_0068464 targets miR-383 to regulate Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation, thereby promoting the development of CRC.