Circ_0001589/miR‐1248/HMGB1 axis enhances EMT‐mediated metastasis and cisplatin resistance in cervical cancer

Abstract Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumors in female worldwide. Cirular RNAs (circRNA) represent a new class of regulatory RNA and play a pivotal role in the carcinogenesis and development of tumors. However, their functions have not been fully elucidated in cervical cancer. In this study, we identified an upregulated circRNA, circ_0001589, both in fresh clinical samples and tissue microarray of cervical cancer. Transwell assay and cell apoptosis assay by flow cytometry demonstrated circ_0001589 promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐mediated cell migration and invasion, and enhanced cisplatin resistance in vitro. In addition, in nude mice model, circ_0001589 increased the number of lung metastases and recovered xenograft growth from cisplatin treatment in vivo. Mechanistically, RNA pull‐down assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, and dual‐luciferase reporter assay disclosed that circ_0001589 function as an competing endogenous RNA to sponge miR‐1248, which directly target the 3′ untranslated region of high mobility group box‐B1 (HMGB1). Thereby, circ_0001589 upregulated HMGB1 protein expression and accelerate cervical cancer progression. The rescue experiments also revealed that miR‐1248 overexpression or HMGB1 knockdown partially reversed the regulatory functions of circ_0001589 on cell migration, invasion, and cisplatin resistance. In summary, our findings suggest the upregulation of circ_0001589 promoted EMT‐mediated cell migration and invasion, and enhanced cisplatin resistance via regulating miR‐1248/HMGB1 axis in cervical cancer. These results provided new evidence for understanding the carcinogenesis mechanism and finding new therapeutic target for cervical cancer.