Circular RNA has_circ_0003204 inhibits oxLDL-induced vascular endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are widely expressed in eukaryotic cells and play a key role in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between hsa_circ_0003204 and atherosclerosis. Here, hsa_circ_0003204 was aberrantly overexpressed in the ox-LDL-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Knockdown of hsa_circ_0003204 facilitated the proliferation, migration, and invasion but reduced the apoptosis of oxLDL-induced HUVECs. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0003204 knockdown significantly reduced the E-cadherin expression but increased the expressions of N-cadherin and vimentin in oxLDL-induced HUVECs. Collectively, these findings suggest that hsa_circ_0003204 plays an important role in the proliferation and angiogenesis of HUVECs, providing a potential target for treating endothelial cell damage in atherosclerosis.