Circular RNA Circ_0122396 Regulates Human Lens Epithelial Cell Progression by Regulating miR-23a-3p and MMP16 in Age-Related Cataract

Abstract

Background

CircRNA plays a regulatory role in multiple life processes. Circ_0122396 could participate in the regulation of age-related cataract (ARC) progression. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of circ_0122396 In ARC remain enigmatic.

Methods

Circ_0122396, microRNA (miR)-23a-3p, and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-16 (MMP16) expression levels were detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was used to detect the levels of MMP16 and apoptosis-related proteins. Cell counting kit-8 analysis and 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine assay were used to assess human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) proliferation. Flow cytometry was performed to determine cell apoptosis. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were measured using commercial kits. Luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and RNA pull-down assay were used to examine the interaction among circ_0122396, miR-23a-3p, and MMP16.

Results

Circ_0122396 and MMP16 were down-regulated while miR-23a-3p was up-regulated in ARC. H₂O₂ constrained proliferation and GSH-PX level, promotes apoptosis and MDA level in HLECs, and overexpression of circ_0122396 attenuated these effects. miR-23a-3p was a direct target of circ_0122396, and MMP16 was a direct target of miR-23a-3p. The effect of circ_0122396 overexpression on H₂O₂-induced HLECs was reversed by miR-23a-3p, and MMP16 elevation overturned the impacts of miR-23a-3p in H₂O₂-induced HLECs.

Conclusions

Circ_0122396 may regulate the progression of ARC via the miR-23a-3p/MMP16 pathway in H₂O₂-stimulated HLECs, which may serve as a potentially valuable biomarker and novel therapeutic target for ARC.

Keywords:

• ARC
• circ_0122396
• miR-23a-3p
• MMP16

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Written informed consents were obtained from all participants and this study was permitted by the Ethics Committee of Xi’an People’s Hospital [IRB Number: 20201112Q].

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.