Circ_0091579 exerts an oncogenic role in hepatocellular carcinoma via mediating miR-136-5p/TRIM27

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) act as crucial regulators in tumorigenesis. In this study, the working mechanism of circ_0091579 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression was investigated. The expression of RNA and protein was measured via RT-qPCR and Western blot assay. Cell proliferation ability was analyzed via CCK8, EdU and colony formation assays. Cell migration and invasion abilities were detected via transwell assays. Flow cytometry was applied to assess cell cycle and apoptosis. The target relation between miR-136-5p and circ_0091579 or tripartite motif containing 27 (TRIM27) was certified using dual-luciferase reporter assay. Xenograft tumor model was utilized to assess the role of circ_0091579 in tumor growth in vivo. The protein level of Ki67 in tumor tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. Circ_0091579 expression was elevated in HCC tissues and cell lines. HCC patients with high circ_0091579 expression displayed low survival rate. Circ_0091579 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle progression and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and induced apoptosis of HCC cells. Circ_0091579 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-136-5p, and circ_0091579 silencing-mediated effects were largely overturned by the knockdown of miR-136-5p in HCC cells. MiR-136-5p interacted with the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of TRIM27, and TRIM27 overexpression largely counteracted miR-136-5p overexpression-induced influences in HCC cells. Circ_0091579 sponged miR-136-5p to up-regulate TRIM27 expression in HCC cells. Circ_0091579 silencing suppressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0091579 exhibited an oncogenic role to enhance the malignant potential of HCC cells through mediating miR-136-5p/TRIM27 axis in vitro and in vivo.