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

Abstract

Hong Li, Kehong Bi, Saran Feng, Yan Wang, Chuansheng Zhu Department of Hematology, Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, ChinaCorrespondence: Kehong BiDepartment of Hematology, Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan City, Shandong Province, 250014, ChinaEmail [email protected]: 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

Keywords

• circ_pola2
• acute myeloid leukemia
• mir-34a
• maturation