Knockdown circular RNA circGFRA1 inhibits glioma cell proliferation and migration by upregulating microRNA-99a

Glioma is the most widespread and malignant brain tumor in the central nervous system of adult, causing multiple cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Here, we identified the impact of circGFRA1 on glioma, and aimed to uncover the underlying molecular mechanism. The expression of circGFRA1 of glioma specimens was evaluated by using quantitative Reverse transcription PCR. Cell viability, proliferation, colony formation, Apoptosis and migration were estimated utilizing CCK-8, EdU staining, colony formation assay, TUNEL staining and Transwell assay, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis, luciferase assay and RNA co-immunoprecipitation was utilized for verification of direct binding between circGFRA1 and miR-99a. Western blot was applied to investigate protein expression in U251 cells. The results showed that circGFRA1 expression was overexpressed in glioma specimens. Knockdown circGFRA1 declined viability, colony formation, proliferation and migrative potential, but enhanced U251 cell Apoptosis. Moreover, circGFRA1 acts as a MicroRNA sponge for miR-99a. Furthermore, miR-99a was involved in the circGFRA1-regulated glioma cell behaviors. Silencing circGFRA1 reduced p/t-AKT, p/t-FOXO1 and p/t-mTOR expression levels via upregulating miR-99a expression. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that knockdown circGFRA1 inhibits glioma cell proliferation and migration by upregulating microRNA-99a.