Circ_101064 regulates the proliferation, invasion and migration of glioma cells through miR-154–5p/ PIWIL1 axis

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Circ_101064 on glioma cell proliferation, invasion, migration and explore the underlying mechanisms. The expression levels of Circ_101064 in glioma/para-carcinoma tissues and glioma cells were analyzed using RT-qPCR. Moreover, U251 and U87 cells were transfected with si-Circ_101064 or miR-154–5p mimics. Cell proliferation rate was determined by CCK-8 assay; the invasion and migration activities were examined using Transwell assay; the expression levels of PIWIL1 were evaluated by RT-qPCR and western blotting. The expression level of Circ_101064 was significantly upregulated in glioma tissues compared with control, and was closely associated with tumor grading and diameter. Furthermore, increased Circ_101064 expression was detected in human glioma cell lines. In addition, knockdown of Circ_101064 remarkably suppressed cell proliferation, invasion and migration in glioma cells in vitro. Moreover, microRNA-154–5p (miR-154–5p) could be a target of Circ_101064. Additionally, PIWIL1 is a putative downstream molecule of miR-154–5p, and its expression was downregulated by knockdown of Circ_101064. The effects on cell growth and metastasis caused by si-Circ_101064 were notably enhanced by miR-154–5p mimics. However, the influences of miR-154-5p-suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells could be abolished by overexpressed PIWIL1. In summary, our findings provided novel insight into the regulatory functions of Circ_101064 during tumor development in glioma. More importantly, Circ_101064/miR-154–5p/PIWIL1 axis could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease. •We reported Circ_101064 was upregulated in glioma tissues and cells for the first time.•Circ_101064 could regulate miR-154–5p through the ceRNA mechanism.•PIWIL1 is a novel downstream target of miR-154–5p.•We provided the regulatory functions of Circ_101064 during tumor development in glioma through miR-154–5p/PIWIL1 axis.