Objective To investigate whether circRNA CRIM1 can affect the biological behavior of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by regulating the Forkhead Box O3a (FOXO3a)-Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long-Chain Family Member 4 pathway (ACSL4) pathway. Methods Detect the expression level of circRNA CRIM1, FOXO3a, ACSL4 mRNA in normal lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B and NSCLC cells by Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HCC827 cells were assigned into Control group, si-NC group, si-circRNA CRIM1 group, si-circRNA CRIM1+pc-NC group, and si-circRNA CRIM1+pc-FOXO3a group. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration, invasion, circRNA CRIM1, FOXO3a mRNA and ACSL4 mRNA expression levels, FOXO3a and Epithelial cadherin (Epithelial cadherin, FOXO3a) were detected. E-cadherin), ACSL4, Neural cadherin (N-cadherin), Cysteine proteinase-3, and E-cadherin. cleaved caspase-3), Vimentin Intermediate Filament Protein (Vimentin Intermediate Filament Protein, vimentin), Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2) protein expression levels. The t test was used to compare the two groups separately, the difference between the groups was analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and the pairwise difference was tested by SNK-q. Results The mRNA expression levels of circRNA CRIM1, FOXO3a and ACSL4 in NSCLC tissues and cells were increased. (P<0.05). Compared with the Control group and the si-NC group, the OD490 (24h, 48h) value, cell proliferation rate, scratch healing rate[(37.42±3.28)% vs (83.56±5.41)%, (82.79±5.63)%], number of invasive cells[(69.78±8.46) vs (174.56±21.37), (168.31±19.84)], circRNA CRIM1, FOXO3a mRNA and ACSL4 mRNA expression levels, N-cadherin, vimentin, MMP-2, PCNA, FOXO3a and ACSL4 protein expression levels of HCC827 cells in the si-circRNA CRIM1 group were lower, the apoptosis rate [(37.48±4.16)% vs (5.16±0.67)%,(5.31±0.72)%], E-cadherin, and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression levels were higher (P<0.05). Overexpression of FOXO3a could weaken the inhibitory effect of silencing circRNA CRIM1 expression on the biological behavior of HCC827 cells (P<0.05). Conclusion Silencing circRNA CRIM1 expression can inhibit the malignant biological behavior of HCC827 cells, which may be related to the inhibition of the FOXO3a-ASCL4 pathway. |