Abstract

Sufentanil has been found to have anti-tumor effects, but its role in osteosarcoma progression and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Circular_0000735 and microRNA-513a-5p expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Osteosarcoma cells (U2OS) were grouped as control group, different concentrations of sufentanil (10, 20 and 40 ng/ml) group, small interfering-negative control group, small interfering-circular_0000735 group and sufentanil+plasmid cloning deoxyribonucleic acid-circular_0000735 group. Cell growth was analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, plate cloning assay and flow cytometry. Cleaved-caspase-3 protein level was tested by Western blot. Circular_0000735 and microRNA-513a-5p interaction was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Circular_0000735 was upregulated while microRNA-513a-5p was downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues (p<0.05). Sufentanil inhibited U2OS cell proliferation and circular_0000735 expression, while promoted apoptosis rate, cleaved caspase-3 level, and microRNA-513a-5p expression (p<0.05). Circular_0000735 knockdown enhanced microRNA-513a-5p expression, apoptosis rate and cleaved-caspase-3 level, while it reduced cell proliferation (p<0.05). Overexpression of circular_0000735 could reverse the effect of sufentanil on osteosarcoma cell proliferation and apoptosis. Besides, circular_0000735 targeted microRNA-513a-5p to regulate negative microRNA-513a-5p expression. Sufentanil restrained osteosarcoma cell growth through circular_0000735/microRNA-513a-5p axis.