CircAmotl1 motivates Amotl1 expression to facilitate cervical cancer growth

Abstract Cervical cancer is acknowledged as the most prevalent gynecological tumor and a severe public issue which threatens female health, resulting from its high incidence and fatality rate. Surging evidence have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play significant roles in the initiation and progression of various malignancies. Although circAmotl1 has been testified to execute oncogenic properties in breast cancer and prostate cancer, literatures on its function and regulatory mechanism in cervical cancer development are still scanty. Using a bioinformatics analysis, we found Circ_0004214 was a circular form of Amotl1. Through qRT-PCR analysis, circAmotl1 and its host gene Amotl1 were both upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and closely correlated with poor prognosis of cervical cancer. Gain or loss-of function assays and in vivo experiments demonstrated that circAmotl1 promoted cervical cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, circAmotl1 served as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to prompt the expression of Amotl1 through sponging miR-485-5p. Rescue assays revealed that miR-485-5p/Amotl1 axis involved in circ_Amotl1-mediated cervical cancer progression. Our findings provide a better understanding of molecular mechanism underlying circAmotl1 in cervical cancer and indicated circAmotl1/miR-485-5p/Amotl1 as a promising novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this disease.