Abstract
Background: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the commonest primary intraocular malignancy during childhood. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) act as regulators in RB development, and hsa_circ_E2F5 (circ_0084811 in this study) was found to be highly expressed in RB cells, so we wanted to identify its detailed molecular mechanism. Methods: The expression level of circ_0084811 in RB cells was tested by RT-qPCR and its effects on RB cells were evaluated through functional assays. The regulatory mechanism that circ_0084811 may exert in RB progression was testified through mechanism experiments. Results: High circ_0084811 expression in RB cells facilitated cell proliferation but inhibited cell apoptosis. The enrichment of acetylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac) in circ_0084811 promoter induced circ_0084811 upregulation. Moreover, circ_0084811 regulated E2F transcription factor 5 (E2F5) expression via sponging microRNA-18a-5p (miR-18a-5p) and microRNA-18b-5p (miR-18b-5p). Conclusion: circ_0084811 modulated RB progression via the miR-18a-5p/miR-18b-5p/E2F5 axis.