A Method by which circUBR1 Controls the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of HSC3 Cells

Abstract

This work investigates the effects of circUBR1 and the underlying mechanisms on the growth, migration and penetration of HSC3 cells derived from oral squamous carcinoma. The expression levels of circUBR1, miR-216a-3p and HSC3 were assessed in tissues from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and adjacent tissues. Based on the transfection targets, the cells were divided into four groups: si-NC, si-circUBR1, miR-NC, miR-216a-3p, si-circUBR1+anti-miR-NC and si-circUBR1+anti-miR-216a-3p. The cell viability, scratch healing rate, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, number of cell clones formed, and number of invasion cells were significantly lower in the miR-216a-3p group compared to the miR-NC group (p<0.05). Moreover, when comparing the si-circUBR1+anti-miR-NC group to the si-circUBR1+anti-miR-216a-3p group, the cell viability, scratch healing rate, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, number of cell clones formed, and number of invasion cells were significantly higher in the si-circUBR1+anti-miR-216a-3p group (p<0.05). This suggests that disrupting circUBR1 expression leads to up-regulation of miR-216a-3p, resulting in reduced proliferation, clone formation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells.