Silencing of cZNF292 circular RNA suppresses human glioma tube formation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

CircRNA is a novel type of RNA molecule formed by a covalently closed loop which have no 5'-3' polarity and possess no polyA tail and relatively stable due to the cyclic structure. Therefore, they may serve as potential targets and diagnosis biomarkers for tumor therapy. cZNF292 is an important circular oncogenic RNA and plays a critical role in the progression of tube formation. This study is aimed at exploring the role of cZNF292 in human glioma tube formation and its potential mechanism of action. We found that cZNF292 silencing suppresses tube formation by inhibiting glioma cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Cell cycle progression in human glioma U87MG and U251 cells was halted at S/G2/M phase via the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway and related genes such as PRR11, Cyclin A, p-CDK2, VEGFR-1/2, p-VEGFR-1/2 and EGFR. The results suggest that cZNF292 silencing plays an important role in the tube formation process and has potential for application as a therapeutic target and biomarker in glioma.