CircRNA circ_POLA2 is Upregulated in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Promotes Cell Proliferation by Suppressing the Production of Mature miR-34a

Abstract

Purpose

CircRNA circ_POLA2 has been reported as an oncogene in lung cancer, while its role in other malignancies is unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of circ_POLA2 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods

The expression levels of circ_POLA2, mature miR-34a and miR-34a precursor in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) from AML patients (n = 50) and healthy controls (n = 50) were determined by RT-qPCR. Correlations among them were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Overexpression of circ_POLA2 was achieved in AML cell lines, followed by the measurement of the expression levels of mature miR-34a and miR-34a precursor. The role of circ_POLA2 and miR-34a in regulating AML cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay.

Results

Circ_POLA2 was upregulated in AML and inversely correlated with mature miR-34a, but not miR-34a precursor. In AML cells, overexpression of circ_POLA2 decreased the expression levels of mature miR-34a, but not miR-34a precursor. Cell proliferation analysis showed that the overexpression of miR-34a attenuated the effects of overexpression of circ_POLA2 on cell proliferation.

Conclusion

Circ_POLA2 is upregulated in AML and promotes cell proliferation by suppressing the production of mature miR-34a.

Keywords:

• circ_POLA2
• acute myeloid leukemia
• miR-34a
• maturation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express our gratitude for those who have critically reviewed this manuscript and those who gave us help during these experiments. This research was supported by no funders.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.