CircINHA resists granulosa cell apoptosis by upregulating CTGF as a ceRNA of miR-10a-5p in pig ovarian follicles

Publication date: October 2019Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, Volume 1862, Issue 10Author(s): Tianya Guo, Jinbi Zhang, Wang Yao, Xing Du, QiQi Li, Long Huang, Menglan Ma, Qifa Li, Honglin Liu, Zengxiang PanAbstractMammalian ovarian follicular atresia is a complex and fine-regulated biological process with active involvement of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). The emergence of studies of endogenous non-coding RNAs has raised a new aspect for exploration of the regulatory mechanisms involved in follicular atresia. Here, we aimed to illustrate a circRNA involved in the CTGF regulatory pathway during the apoptosis and follicular atresia of pig granulosa cells (GCs). We first detected a decreased expression pattern of CTGF during follicular atresia using IHC, FISH and qRT-PCR and confirmed the anti-apoptosis effect of CTGF in GCs in vitro by CTGF siRNA knockdown. Then, we used a dual luciferase activity assay to demonstrate CTGF as a direct functional target of miR-10a-5p, which was upregulated in atresic follicles and promoted the apoptosis of GCs in vitro. The negative effect of miR-10a-5p on GC viability was confirmed by cell cycle assays, cell proliferation/apoptosis assays and the WB detection of marker proteins. More importantly, we identified a novel circRNA, termed circINHA, that was downregulated during atresia in ovarian follicles, and we confirmed a direct interaction between miR-10a-5p and circINHA. Finally, we demonstra...

Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Gene Regulatory Mechanisms - November 10, 2019 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research