Circ-MEG3 inhibits the malignant proliferation of human cervical cancer cells

Abstract Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant cancers in the world and circular RNA plays an important role in the development of human cancer. However, Circ-MEG3 exact function is still unclear. Herein, our results indicate that circ-MEG3 inhibits the growth in vitro and in vivo of human cervical cancer cells. Moreover, we find that circ-MEG3 alters gene expression in human cervical cancer cells. In particular, there were differences in gene expression between rLV-circ group and rLV-circ-MEG3 group, among which 407 genes were up-regulated expression and 8562 genes were down-regulated expression. The important up-regulated genes mainly include CHIC2, EXT1, KDM6A, DDX5, PPARγ, CNBP, PRRX1, BTG1, FBXO11, SRGAP3, SET, PTEN, EIF4A2. The important down-regulated genes mainly include HSP90AB1, CALR, TPM4, HSP90AA1, MYH9, NPM1, HMGA1, CDKN2A, NDRG1, ATP1A1, SDHA, FUS, MYC, SEPT9, CCND3, DNAJB, SND1, CCND1, RPN1, H3F3A. Strikingly, our results show that circ-MEG3 alters cellular functions and cell signaling pathway. The important up-regulated KEGG mainly include p53signaling pathway, Ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes. The important down-regulated KEGG mainly include cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Amphetamine addiction. In conclusions, Circ-MEG3 inhibits the progression of human cervical cancer by altering gene expression and related signaling pathways, providing a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. We will further explore how Circ-MEG3 functions during cervical carcinogenesis and screen its associated important targets.