Circ_0000144 acts as a miR-1178-3p decoy to promote cell malignancy and angiogenesis by increasing YWHAH expression in papillary thyroid cancer.

Abstract

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common subtype of thyroid cancer. Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000144 (circ_0000144) is related to the progression of thyroid cancer. However, the mechanism by which circ_0000144 accelerates PTC progression is still unclear. Circ_0000144 and YWHAH were upregulated in PTC tissues and cells, while miR-1178-3p had an opposite result. Circ_0000144 silencing constrained PTC cell growth in vitro and in vivo and induced apoptosis and repressed migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of PTC cells in vitro. Circ_0000144 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-1178-3p, which targeted YWHAH. MiR-1178-3p inhibitor reversed circ_0000144 silencing-mediated influence on PTC cell malignancy and angiogenesis. Furthermore, YWHAH overexpression overturned miR-1178-3p mimic-mediated influence on malignant behaviors and angiogenesis of PTC cells. Notably, circ_0000144 regulated YWHAH expression by adsorbing miR-1178-3p. Circ_0000144 promoted cell malignancy and angiogenesis by regulating the miR-1178-3p/YWHAH axis in PTC, offering a novel mechanism for the malignancy and angiogenesis of PTC cells.