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Shaji K. Kumar, MD
Prashant Kapoor, MD, FACP
Shaji K. Kumar, MD
Prashant Kapoor, MD, FACP
Posted: Monday, August 8, 2022
The progression of multiple myeloma may be modulated through the circular RNA circKCNQ5, which competitively sponges to miR-335-5p, according to a study published in Histology and Histopathology. Yan Li, MD, PhD, of Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, China, and colleagues explained that the interaction of these two components may lead to the upregulation of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) expression, resulting in disease progression.
“These results shed light on the mechanisms of multiple myeloma and improve the understanding of circKCNQ5 in multiple myeloma progression,” the study authors commented.
Bone marrow tissue samples were obtained from patients with multiple myeloma (n = 43) and healthy controls (n = 43) from Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital. Samples were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to examine levels of circKCNQ5, BRD4, and miR-335-5p. Additional analyses including colony-forming assays, transwell assays, flow cytometry, and Western blotting were used to assess the proliferation ability, migration and invasion, cellular apoptosis, and protein levels, respectively. Protein interactions were analyzed using RNA immunoprecipitation assays and dual-luciferase reporters.
Overall, there was an increased expression of circKCNQ5 identified in the tissues and cells of patients with multiple myeloma. Additionally, migration, invasion, proliferation, and glycolysis of multiple myeloma cells were suppressed when circKCNQ5 was knocked down and apoptosis of cells was increased. When miR-335-5p was downregulated, the inhibitory effects of circKCNQ5 on multiple myeloma cells were reduced, suggesting the need for the interaction of circKCNQ5 with miR-335-5p. This interaction led to the targeting of BRD4 in this cell population. Moreover, upregulation of miR-335-5p led to the inhibition of malignant phenotypes of multiple myeloma cells.
Disclosure: The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
