Hsa_circ_0002137 stabled by LIN28B promotes osteosarcoma cell growth through the hsa-miR-1246/BCL2 axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNA that have recently shown to have huge capabilities in the regulation of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Growing evidence has indicated that circRNAs could serve as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to sponge microRNAs (miRNAs) and suppress functions of targeted miRNAs. Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant primary bone cancer. Hsa_circ_0002137 is upregulated in OS. However, the role of hsa_circ_0002137 in OS remains unclear. Using miRNA pull-down assay, we showed that cir_0002137 sponged hsa-miR-1246, and BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2) mRNA was a potential target of hsa-miR-1246 in human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. Further, we found that hsa_cir_0002137 could enhance the expression of BCL2 hsa-miR-1246 and promote HOS cell growth through sponging hsa-miR-1246. Moreover, RNA binding protein immunoprecip itation (RIP) assay revealed that lin-28 homolog B (LIN28B) protein associated with hsa_circ_0002137, and LIN28B could increase hsa_circ_0002137 stability and thus accelerate OS cell growth. Our work was the first to study the functions of hsa_circ_0002137, has-miR-1246 and LIN28B in OS, and these results may provide novel therapeutic targets for OS treatment.