Circ_0032627 accelerates proliferation of gastric cancer cells through regulating miR-502-5p expression.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the biological functions of circ_0032627 in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression level of circ_0032627 in GC cell lines and gastric mucosa! cell lines was measured via quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, colony formation assay, and FACS were performed to examine the influences of circ_0032627 on the proliferation and apoptosis of GC cells. The relationship between circ_0032627 and micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) was predicted on-line using StarBase software, and whether circ_0032627 can act as the sponge of the selected miRNAs was verified via Dual-Luciferase reporter assay and qRT-PCR. Finally, MTT assay was conducted to detect the influences of the co-knockdown of circ_0032627 and the selected miRNAs on the proliferation of GC cells. RESULTS: Compared with that in gastric mucosa! cell lines, the expression level of circ_0032627 was upregulated in the selected four GC cell lines, and circ 0032627 knockdown substantially inhibited the proliferation of GC cells, but promoted their apoptosis. Circ_0032627 could act as a sponge of miR-502-5p, and miR-502-3p knockdown reversed the inhibitory effect of circ_0032627 on the proliferation of GC cells. CONCLUSIONS: The expression level of circ_0032627 is raised in GC cells, and circ_0032627 affects the proliferation and apoptosis of GC cells by sponging miR-502-5p.