Hsa_circ_0001649 restrains gastric carcinoma growth and metastasis by downregulation of miR-20a

Background Gastric carcinoma (GC) is a familiar carcinoma and serious threat to human health. We investigated the efficacy and mechanism of circular RNA hsa_circ_0001649 on the growth, migration, and invasion of GC cells. Methods microRNA (miR)-20a and hsa_circ_0001649 expression was investigated by RT-qPCR and was changed by cell transfection. CCK-8, flow cytometry, and BrdU assays were, respectively, used to investigate the efficacies of hsa_circ_0001649 and miR-20a on cell viability, apoptosis, and proliferation. Transwell assay was used to investigate the efficacies of hsa_circ_0001649 and miR-20a on cell migration and invasion. Moreover, the levels of cyclin D1, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and signal pathway-related proteins were investigated by Western blot. Results Hsa_circ_0001649 was downregulated in GC cells and tissues. Upregulation of hsa_circ_0001649 restrained viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, while promoted apoptosis. Furthermore, miR-20a was negatively regulated by hsa_circ_0001649 and miR-20a overexpression reversed the efficacy of hsa_circ_0001649 upregulation. Finally, upregulation of hsa_circ_0001649 restrained ERK and Wnt/beta-catenin pathways while miR-20a overexpression reversed these progresses. Conclusion Upregulation of hsa_circ_0001649 restrained GC cell growth and metastasis by downregulating miR-20a and thereby inactivated ERK and Wnt/beta-catenin pathways.