CircAMD1 regulates proliferation and collagen synthesis via sponging miR-27a-3p in P63-mutant human dermal fibroblasts

Abstract

Transcription factor p63 has critical functions in epidermal, hindgut/anorectal, and limb development. Human mutations in P63 correlate with congenital syndromes affecting the skin, anorectal, and limbs. Nevertheless, less are detected regarding networks and functions controlled by P63 mutations in dermal fibroblasts, which are closely related to skin physiology. To screen for new targets, we employed microarray technology to investigate the R226Q P63 mutation with regards to the resulting circular RNA (circRNA) profiles from P63 point mutations in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). In this study, we show that P63-mutant HDFs display reduced proliferation, collagen synthesis, and myofibroblast differentiation; circAMD1 was also downregulated in P63-mutant HDFs compared with wild-type HDFs. Furthermore, overexpressing circAMD1 rescued the functional and phenotypic alterations of p63-mutant HDFs. We as well determined that miR-27a-3p was circAMD1 target involved in effects of circAMD1 in P63-mutant HDFs. Collectively, our data show that circAMD1 functions as a miR-27a-3p sponge that inhibits the functional and phenotypical alteration of P63-mutant HDFs and may be a critical marker in pathogenesis regarding P63-associated traits.

Keywords: Collagen synthesis; Dermal fibroblasts; Myofibroblast differentiation; P63 mutation; circAMD1.