Fig. 6. CircPRKAR1B functions as a miR-361-3p sponge to promote tumorigenesis in vivo.
A Nude mice were subcutaneously injected with 5 × 106 cells stably transfected with the control or circPRKAR1B shRNA or cotransfected with circPRKAR1B shRNA and miR-361-3p sponge. After 30 days, the tumours were dissected and photographed. B miR-361-3p knockdown promoted the growth of tumours derived from circPRKAR1B knockdown cells, and the average tumour weight in each group at the end of the experiment (day 30) is shown. The data represent the mean ± SEM (n = 6) (*p < 0.05). C Tumour volumes were recorded every six days after mice were injected with stable OS cells. The data represent the mean ± SEM (n = 6) (*p < 0.05). N-cadherin, E-cadherin, vimentin, β-catenin, C-myc, cyclin D1 and FZD4 expression levels were determined by immunohistochemistry (D) and WB (E). Scale bars, 100 mm. F Lung metastasis of mice injected with different stably transfected 143B cells via the tail vein was detected using an in vivo bioluminescence imaging system. Representative images and a histogram are shown (n = 6 each group). G Histological analysis of lung tissues by haematoxylin and eosin staining. H Schematic illustration of the EIF4A3-induced circPRKAR1B/miR-361-3p/FZD4 axis. The data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments (D–F) (*P < 0.05).