Objective: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common blood cancer associated with poor prognosis and high mortality. In this study, we investigated the role and underlying mechanism of action of circ_0104700 in the pathogenesis of AML.
Methods: Circ_0104700 was screened from the GEO database and detected in AML samples and cell lines. The effect of circ_0104700 on AML was analyzed using a methylcellulose colony assay, CCK-8 assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis analyses. The mechanism was explored using bioinformatic analysis, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, dual-luciferase reporter assays, northern blotting and western blot analysis in AML cells.
Results: Circ_0104700 expression was higher in AML patients and AML cell lines. Functionally, circ_0104700 depletion attenuated cell viability and induced apoptosis in MV-4-11 and Kasumi-1 cells. Circ_0104700 depletion enhanced the G0/G1-phase proportion but reduced the proportion of S-phase cells in MV-4-11 and Kasumi-1 cells. circ_0104700 served as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-665 and enhanced MCM2 expression by sponging miR-665 in MV-4-11 and Kasumi-1 cells. Silencing circ_0104700 repressed the proliferation and cell cycle and induced apoptosis of MV-4-11 and Kasumi-1 cells by inhibiting miR-665. MCM2 depletion alleviated the proliferation and cell cycle and enhanced the apoptosis of MV-4-11 and Kasumi-1 cells by inactivating JAK/STAT signaling. JAK/STAT signaling was involved in circ_0104700-mediated malignant phenotypes of MV-4-11 and Kasumi-1 cells.
Conclusion: circ_0104700 contributed to AML progression by enhancing MCM2 expression by targeting miR-665. Our findings provide novel potential therapeutic targets for AML, including circ_0104700, miR-665, and MCM2.
Keywords: AML; JAK/STAT signaling pathway; MCM2; circ_0104700; miR-665.