circFOXK2 targets miR-4677-3p to promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

ObjectiveTo study the effect of circFOXK2 targeting miR-4677-3p on the malignant behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells.

MethodsThe expression of circFOXK2 and miR-4677-3p in OSCC tissues and adjacent tissues was calculated by RT-qPCR.Si-circFOXK2, si-NC, miR-NC, miR-4677-3p mimic, pcDNA, pcDNA-circFOXK2, si-circFOXK2+anti-miR-NC, and si-circFOXK2+anti-miR-4677-3p were respectively transfected into OSCC cells HSC3.The effects of circFOXK2 and miR-4677-3p expression on the malignant behavior of HSC3 cells were detected by scratch healing, CCK-8, Transwell and colony formation assays.The targeting relationship between circFOXK2 and miR-4677-3p was determined by dual luciferase method.

ResultsThe expression level of circFOXK2 in OSCC tissue was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues (P < 0.01), while the expression level of miR-4677-3p was significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues (P < 0.01).After inhibiting the expression of circFOXK2, the HSC3 cell optical density (OD) value, scratch healing rate, clone formation number and invasion number were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and the expression level of miR-4677-3p was significantly increased (P < 0.01).After overexpression of miR-4677-3p, the HSC3 cell OD value, scratch healing rate, clone formation number and invasion number were significantly reduced (P < 0.01).MiR-4677-3p was a target gene of circFOXK2.MiR-4677-3p down-regulation significantly reduced the effect of inhibiting circFOXK2 on cell OD value, scratch healing rate, clone formation number, and number of invasion of HSC3 cells (P < 0.01).

ConclusionsInhibition of circFOXK2 can suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC cells by promoting miR-4677-3p expression.