HNRNPD interacts with ZHX2 regulating the vasculogenic mimicry formation of glioma cells via linc00707/miR-651-3p/SP2 axis

Studies have found that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are dysfunctional and play a significant regulatory role in the development of glioma. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database and the previous studies, we selected heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (HNRNPD) as the research candidate and sought its downstream targeted genes. In the present study, HNRNPD, linc00707, and specific protein 2 (SP2) were highly expressed, while zinc fingers and homeboxes 2 (ZHX2) and miR-651-3p were remarkedly downregulated in glioma tissues and cells. HNRNPD, linc00707, and SP2 knockdown or ZHX2 and miR-651-3p overexpression suppressed glioma cells proliferation, migration, and invasion and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation. Knockdown of HNRNPD increased the stability of ZHX2 mRNA. ZHX2 bound to the promoter region of linc00707 and negatively regulate its expression. Linc00707 could bind with miR-651-3p, while miR-651-3p bound to the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of SP2 mRNA to negatively regulate its expression. The transcription factor SP2 directly bound to the promoter regions of the VM formation-related proteins MMP2, MMP9, and VE-cadherin, playing a role in promoting transcription in order to regulate the VM formation ability of glioma cells.