CircRNA circ_0015278 induces ferroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma through the miR-1228/P53 axis.

Abstract

Background: Circular RNAs play an important role in regulating lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Bioinformatics analysis identified circ_0015278 as differentially expressed in LUAD. However, the biological mechanism of circ_0015278 in LUAD has not been fully clarified, especially in ferroptosis.

Materials and methods: Bioinformatics analysis was employed to explore the downstream mechanisms of Circ_0015278, subsequently confirmed by luciferase reporter assays. The impact of Circ_0015278 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ferroptosis was investigated through a loss-of-function experiment. A xenotransplantation mouse model elucidated the effect of Circ_0015278 on tumour growth.

Results: Circ_0015278 exhibited downregulation in LUAD. It inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting ferroptosis by interacting with miR-1228 to regulate P53 expression through a competitive endogenous RNA mechanism. Moreover, circ_0015278 suppressed tumour growth in mice.

Conclusions: Circ_0015278 was identified as a novel factor promoting ferroptosis in LUAD. Furthermore, it suppressed the malignant progression of LUAD through the miR-1228/P53 axis.