Circ_ZFP644 attenuates caerulein-induced inflammatory injury in rat pancreatic acinar cells by modulating miR-106b/Pias3 axis.

(AP) is a kind of inflammatory misorder existing in pancreas. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in development of AP. The current study was designed to explore the role of circular RNA zinc finger protein 644 (circRNA circ_ZFP644) in caerulein-induced AR42J cells. AP model in vitro was established by exposure of rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells to caerulein. Amylase activity was measured using a kit. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to examine the levels of several inflammatory factors. The expression of circ_ZFP644, microRNA (miR)-106b and protein inhibitor of activated STAT 3 (Pias3) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or western blot assay. And flow cytometry was employed to monitor cell apoptosis. Western blot assay was also conducted to analyze the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. The association among circ_ZFP644, miR-106b and Pias3 was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Caerulein treatment activated amylase activity and promoted the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in AR42J cells. Circ_ZFP644 and Pias3 were downregulated, but miR-106b was upregulated in caerulein-induced AR42J cells. Enforced expression of circ_ZFP644 or miR-106b inhibition could reduce amylase activity and inflammatory cytokine secretion, while promote apoptosis in caerulein-induced AR42J cells, which was almost reversed by Pias3 knockdown. Circ_ZFP644 targeted miR-106b to upregulate Pias3 expression. Circ_ZFP644 might exert its anti-inflammation and pro-apoptosis roles in caerulein-induced AR42J cells by regulating miR-106b/Pias3 axis.