Inhibition of circRNA NGFR promotes ferroptosis in gallbladder carcinoma cells
Desen Fan,
Hui Liu,
Bin Hu,
Rongping Zhou,
Changfeng Wang,
Dong Yang
Affiliations
Desen Fan
Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
Hui Liu
Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
Bin Hu
Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
Rongping Zhou
Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
Changfeng Wang
Corresponding author. Changfeng Wang, Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China.; Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
Dong Yang
Corresponding author. Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China.; Department of Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
Background: Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a formidably aggressive malignancy. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial regulatory roles in cancer. NGFR is a novel circRNA implicated in various types of cancers. The primary goal of this study was to elucidate the role of NGFR in GBC. Methods: NGFR variants exhibiting discernible discrepancies were identified using RNA sequencing and validated using real-time PCR. Cell proliferation was assessed using 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays. The ferroptotic phenotype was characterized by assessing the reactive oxygen species and Fe2+ levels. Western blotting was used to analyze ferroptosis-associated proteins. Superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and glutathione levels were measured using commercially available reagent kits. The severity of mitochondrial damage was evaluated by assessing JC-1, MitoSOX, and ATP activities. Results: NGFR was upregulated, and its suppression inhibited cell proliferation and increased Fe2+ levels in GBC cells. Furthermore, NGFR downregulation disrupted mitochondrial function. Conclusion: Circular RNA NGFR can impede the advancement of GBC by modulating the ferroptotic phenotype, thereby potentially offering a novel avenue for the clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies of GBC.
