CircPVT1 Promotes Bladder Cancer Progression by Acting as a ceRNA for miR-140-3p to Target TRPS1

Abstract Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most malignancy tumor in the urinary system. Therefore, further studies are needed to revealed the molecular mechanism of BC progression and development. Previous study demonstrated that the deregulation of circRNAs can regulate cell biological functions in tumorigenesis and development. However, the roles of circPVT1 in BC have not yet been revealed. Materials and methods: The expression level of circPVT1, miR-140-3p, and TRPS1 were measured by RT-PCR in BC tissues and cells; dual luciferase reporter and RIP assay showed that circRNA served as a sponge for miRNA, and miRNA could target mRNA. In vitro, effects of overexpression circPVT1 or sh-circPVT1 can regulate BC cells’ proliferation, migration, invasion were detected by CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay. Results: Our research demonstrated that the expression of circPVT1 was upregulated in BC tissues and cell lines, and increased in metastatic tissues compared to that of non-metastatic tissues. CircPVT1 sponging miR-140-3p to target TRPS1 was revealed by dual luciferase reporter and RIP assay. In addition, the expression level of miR-140-3p was reduced in BC tumor tissues, and TRPS1 was significantly increased in BC tumor tissues. Pearson correlation analysis showed that miR-140-3p with circPVT1 and TRPS1 as compare with miR-140-3p have a moderately negative correlation, and there was a moderately positive correlation between circPVT1 with TRPS1. Further, cytological studies found that circPVT1 enhance BC cells’ proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting TRPS1 via miR-140-3p. Conclusion: CircPVT1 plays a tumor enhancement role in BC and that can effectively promote cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT by targeting the miR-140-3p/TRPS1 axis. CircPVT1 may be a novel potential treatment and diagnosis biomarker in BC.