AUTHOR=Han Lu , Li Dandan , Hang Yanwen , Zong Xiaojuan , Lv Jiashun , Bai Xiaolu , Lu Yi , Zhang Peng , Zhou Meiling , Wu Zhaodi , Hu Wei TITLE=Downregulation of hsa_circ_0004543 Activates oxLDL-Induced Vascular Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Angiogenesis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.632164 DOI=10.3389/fgene.2021.632164 ISSN=1664-8021 ABSTRACT=

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel non-coding RNAs, which show abnormal expression in several diseases, such as atherosclerosis (AS). The purpose of the present study was to reveal the association between hsa_circ_0004543 and AS. In the present study, hsa_circ_0004543 was overexpressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Inhibition of hsa_circ_0004543 expression facilitated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HUVECs and significantly reduced their apoptotic rate following treatment with oxLDL. Furthermore, silencing of hsa_circ_0004543 activated the PI3K/AKT/NOS3 pathway in oxLDL-induced HUVECs. Collectively, these results demonstrated that hsa_circ_0004543 may play a vital role in the development of AS and affect the proliferation of HUVECs, providing a potential target for treating endothelial cell damage in AS.