Objective: To investigate the expression of circular RNA hsa_circ_0128298 in hepatocellular harcinoma (HCC) and evaluate its function in the growth process of HCC. Methods: qPCR was used to detect the expressions of hsa_circ_0128298 in 50 HCC tissues, corresponding paracancerous tissues and HCC cells. The effects of hsa_circ_0128298 on HCC growth was analyzed by CCK-8 kit, flow cytometry and western blot assays. The values of hsa_circ_0128298 for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC were assessed by ROC curve and survival curve analyses. Results: Compared with the paracancerous tissues, the expression of hsa_circ_0128298 was significantly increased in HCC tissues ( U =846.0， P =0.005). The area under ROC curve (AUCROC) was 0.661, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) was 0.560 to 0.753, sensitivity was 80.0% and specificity was 50.0%. HCC patients with high expression of hsa_circ_0128298 displayed less overall survival time than those with low expression of hsa_circ_0128298 ( χ 2=6.294, P =0.012). RNA interference of hsa_circ_0128298 (si-hsa_circ_0128298) significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1, and also induced mRNA upregulation and protein expression of cyclin p21. Meanwhile，si-p21 partially reversed the proliferation inhibition and cell cycle arrest of HCC cells induced by si-hsa_circ_0128298, and restore its growth and proliferation potential. Conclusion The highly expressed hsa_circ_0128298 in HCC could promote the growth of HCC by regulating the expression of p21 and promise to be a new target for diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of total glucosides of paeony （TGP） on neurotoxicity induced by aqueous extract of Strychni Semen （SA） in mice and to explore its mechanism. MethodThirty-two male KM mice were randomly divided into normal group，SA group （19.5 mg·kg^-1），TGP group （225 mg·kg^-1），and SA+TGP group （SA 19.5 mg·kg^-1+TGP 225 mg·kg^-1）. The open field test and beam walking test were used to observe the behavioral changes in mice. Pathological changes in the Nissl bodies of the cerebral cortex were assessed through Nissl staining. The levels of malondialdehyde （MDA），glutamate （Glu） in the mouse brain tissue，and serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Transcriptome sequencing was employed to analyze gene expression profiles in the brain tissue. Common differentially expressed genes （DEGs） underwent gene ontology （GO） and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses. The mRNA expression levels of key targets were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the normal group，the SA group exhibited significant increases in side-to-side distance and average speed in the open field test，as well as increased walking time on the balance beam. The axons of cortical neurons were absent，and the levels of Glu and MDA in the brain tissue were significantly elevated （P<0.05，P<0.01），along with a notable increase in serum 5-HT levels （P<0.05）. In contrast to the SA group，the SA+TGP group significantly reduced the side-to-side distance，average speed，and balance beam walking time （P<0.05 or P<0.01）. The neuronal axons were clearly visible，and levels of 5-HT，Glu，and MDA were decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Transcriptome analysis indicated that TGP could regulate the glutamate receptor，ionotropic，N-methyl-D-aspartate 2a （GRIN2A）/phospholipase C β₁ （PLCB1）/protein kinase C，gamma （PRKCG） signaling pathway. Compared with the normal group，SA significantly decreased the expression of GRIN2A，PLCB1，and PRKCG genes in the mouse brain （P<0.01），while the mRNA levels of GRIN2A and PRKCG significantly increased after TGP administration （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionSA induces significant neurotoxicity in the mouse brain，and TGP significantly alleviates SA-induced neurological damage，potentially through the GRIN2A/PLCB1/PRKCG signaling pathway.