CircUBXN7 suppresses cell proliferation and facilitates cell apoptosis in lipopolysaccharide-induced cell injury by sponging miR-622 and regulating the IL6ST/JAK1/STAT3 axis

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and serious respiratory illness with substantial morbidity and mortality. Circular RNAs have been demonstrated to participate in various diseases processes. However, the biological function and mechanism of most circular RNAs have not been elucidated in ARDS. In this study, we found that circUBXN7 was significantly increased in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced A549 and Beas-2B cell injury. Inhibition of circUBXN7 significantly promoted cell proliferation and reduced cell apoptosis, while overexpression of circUBXN7 suppressed cell proliferation and accelerated cell apoptosis in LPS-induced A549 and Beas-2B cells. CircUBXN7 acted as a sponge for miR-622, and miR-622 rescued the effect of circUBXN7 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. We also found that IL6ST was a target gene of miR-622, and the expression of IL6ST was indirectly regulated by circUBXN7. Furthermore, western blotting indicated that the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway was involved in the circUBXN7/miR-622/IL6ST axis in LPS-induced A549 and Beas-2B cell injury. Overall, our study suggested that circUBXN7 suppressed cell proliferation and facilitated cell apoptosis by sponging miR-622 and regulating IL6ST, to activate the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway in LPS-induced A549 and Beas-2B cell injury. CircUBXN7 might therefore be a potential biomarker for ARDS, and dysregulation of circUBXN7 may be involved in the pathogenesis of ARDS.