EIF4A3-induced circle RNA_ 0001860 promotes growth, invasion, and immune evasion of gastric cancer cells through the miR-618/HMGA2 axis.

Gastric cancer is a globally common type of cancer with a dismal prognosis. Circle RNA_ 0001860 (circ_0001860) is dysregulated in several cancers and involved in cancer development. Its involvement in stomach cancer, however, remains unclear. AGS and HGC-27 cells were transfected with shRNA against circ_0001860 to knock down the circ_0001860 level. The function of circ_0001860 in gastric cancer was analyzed by cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation, Transwell, ELISA, dual-luciferase reporter, RIP, RNA pull-down, and western blotting. Nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with AGS cells with lentivirus-packaged sh-circ_0001860 to determine the role of sh-circ_0001860 in gastric cancer by immunohistochemistry assays. circ_0001860 was upregulated in gastric cancer, indicating a poor prognosis for gastric cancer patients. Knockdown of circ_0001860 reduced gastric cancer cells' viability, the percentage of EdU-positive cells, the numbers of invaded cells, and concentrations of IL-10 and TGF-β while fostering the concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-2. circ_0001860 sponged miR-618 to positively modulate the HMGA2 level in gastric cancer cells. The inhibitory role of sh-circ_0001860 on cell growth, invasion, and immune evasion of gastric cancer was abolished with the miR-618 knockdown or the HMGA2 overexpression. Besides, EIF4A3 positively modulated the circ_0001860 level in gastric cancer cells. In vivo, silencing of circ_0001860 reduced tumor size and weight and the expression of HMGA2 and IL-10 but enhanced the level of miR-618 and IFN-γ. Collectively, circle RNA_ 0001860 was induced by EIF4A3 to enhance proliferation, invasion, and immune evasion of gastric cancer through the miR-618/HMGA2 axis.