ZEB1-mediated suppression of circDennd1b promotes the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells.

Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a key transcription factor that induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotes lung cancer progression. While circular RNAs (circRNAs) are also involved in EMT, their connection with ZEB1 remains unclear. Here, using RNA sequencing coupled with CIRI-full analysis, we identified 25 circRNAs differentially expressed in ZEB1-overexpressing lung cancer cells. Among them, circDennd1b was significantly downregulated. circDennd1b knockdown promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced EMT. Conversely, circDennd1b overexpression inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. We also found that circDennd1b inhibits cell migration by sponging the miR-181 family. These data indicate that the ZEB1/circDennd1b/miR-181 axis promotes lung cancer progression and could offer a new approach for treatment.