[Study on the molecular mechanism of circ_0000326 regulating the proliferation, invasion and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC3 cells by targeting miR-567].

Purpose: To explore the molecular mechanism of circ_0000326 regulating proliferation, invasion and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC3 cells.

Methods: Cancerous tissue and adjacent tissue specimens of 45 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Hefei from March 2020 to June 2021 were collected. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of circ_0000326 and miR-567. CCK-8, plate clone formation test, scratch test and Transwell test were used to detect cell proliferation, clone formation, migration and invasion. Dual luciferase reporter experiment was used to detect the targeting relationship between circ_0000326 and miR-567. Western blot was used to quantify E-cadherin and N-cadherin protein. SPSS 21.0 software package was used for statistical analysis.

Results: circ_0000326 expression was 4.01±0.29 in OSCC and 1.00±0.13 in paracancerous tissues, while miR-567 expression was 0.28±0.03 and 1.00±0.10, respectively, with significant differences. Compared with the si-NC group, the cell viability and the number of cell clones in the si-circ_0000326 group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05). Compared with the si-NC group, the number of invasive cells and scratch healing rate in the si-circ_0000326 group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05), the expression level of E-cadherin protein was significantly increased (P＜0.05), and the expression level of N-cadherin protein was significantly decreased(P＜0.05). Additionally, circ_0000326 targeted miR-567. miR-567 expression was 1.00±0.00 in pcDNA group, 0.44±0.04 in pcDNA-circ_0000326 group, 0.99±0.06 in si-NC group, and 2.92±0.25 in si-circ_0000326 group with significant differences. Compared with miR-NC group, the cell viability, scratch healing rate, the number of cell clones and the number of invasive cells of miR-567 group were decreased, while E-cadherin protein level was increased(P＜0.05). Compared with si-circ_0000326+anti-miR-NC group, the cell viability, scratch healing rate, N-cadherin protein level, the number of cell clones and the number of invasive cells of si-circ_0000326+anti-miR-567 group were increased(P＜0.05), while E-cadherin protein level was decreased(P＜0.05).

Conclusions: Interference with the expression of circ_0000326 could reduce the ability of OSCC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion by promoting the expression of miR-567.