Circular RNA CircACAP2 regulates temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis via miR-21-5p/PLAG1 axis.

Objectives: The pathogenesis of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) remains not fully understood. Our previous studies demonstrated that miR-21-5p may participate in the TMJOA development and the interaction between circRNA-ACAP2 (CircACAP2) and miR-21-5p. Our present study aimed to explore the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of CircACAP2 in TMJOA.

CircRNA_ACAP2 Suppresses EMT in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Targeting the miR-21-5p/STAT3 Signaling Axis.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) contain microRNA (miRNA)-specific binding sites and can function as miRNA sponges to regulate gene expression by suppressing the inhibitory effect of miRNAs on their target genes. MiR-21-5p has been reported to be involved in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and plays an important role in the activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the upstream regulatory mechanism and downstream targets of miR-21-5p in tumor cells remain unknown.

[Effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway during stretch-induced differentiation process of C2C12 myoblasts].

Objective: To investigate the effect of cyclic stretch on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway during stretch-induced differentiation process of C2C12 myoblasts.

Methods: C2C12 cells were seeded on Bio Flex 6-well plates, and cells were subsequently subjected to cyclic stretch at an optimal magnitude (10%) and frequency (0.5 Hz).