Hsa_circ_0088036 promotes the proliferation and migration of fibroblast-like synoviocytes by sponging miR-140-3p and upregulating SIRT 1 expression in rheumatoid arthritis. (September 2020) - Zhong, Shuping
Highlights: The fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis are considered to be invasive, responsible for joint destruction, and associated with disease activity. Hsa_circ_0088036 promotes the proliferation and migration of the fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis. Hsa_circ_0088036 serves as a sponge of miR-140-3p and upregulates the expression of SIRT. Hsa_circ_0088036/miR-140-3p/SIRT 1 axis plays a crucial role in synovial pathogenesis, providing new insight into circular RNAs during rheumatoid arthritis progression. Abstract: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated to play crucial roles in the development and progression of various types of cancers by serving as microRNA sponges to regulate the expression of target genes. Although in-depth studies of circRNAs have been conducted, their functional and pathological significance in autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), remains unclear. Our previous study verified that hsa_circ_0088036 (circ0088036) is significantly elevated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with RA. The present study aimed to explore the roles of circ0088036 in the pathogenesis of RA. The circ0088036/miR-140−3p/silent information regulator 1 (SIRT 1) axis was predicted by bioinformatics tools. Circ0088036 was found to be aberrantly upregulated in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) in RA compared with FLSs in osteoarthritis (OA). Functionally, upregulated circ0088036 promoted the proliferation and migration of RA-FLSs. Mechanistically, circ0088036 acted as a miR-140−3p sponge to upregulate SIRT 1 expression, subsequently promoting RA progression. In conclusion, this study revealed that circ0088036 may play an essential role in promoting synovial pathogenesis via the circ0088036/miR-140−3p/SIRT 1 axis in RA, providing new insight into circRNAs during RA progression.