ABSTRACT: Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators in tumorigenesis, including cervical cancer (CC), but their specific roles and molecular mechanisms in CC are not fully understood. This study further explored the role of hsa_circ_0000231 in CC cells and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: The circular structure of circ_0000231 was confirmed using Sanger sequencing and divergent primer PCR. Circ_0000231 was overexpressed in CC cells via plasmid transfection, and CACNA1H was silenced using siCACNA1H, with both levels confirmed by qPCR. Cell proliferation, cycle distribution, apoptosis, and invasion were analyzed by MTT, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. mRNA transcriptome sequencing was applied to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CC cells after circ_0000231 overexpression. Additionally, protein level was assessed with Western blot. Results: Hsa_circ_0000231 was upregulated in CC cells. circ_0000231 upregulation accelerated cell proliferation, cycle progression, migration, and invasion, while it also decreased apoptosis in CC cells. mRNA transcriptome sequencing and KEGG pathway analysis revealed the MAPK pathway as an enriched pathway, with upregulated expression of MAPK-related proteins observed in cells overexpressing circ_0000231. Additionally, CACNA1H expression was increased in circ_0000231-overexpressing cells. Silencing CACNA1H reversed the effects of circ_0000231 overexpression, including the MAPK pathway induction, reduced cell viability, restored apoptosis, and suppressed migration and invasion. Conclusions: These findings suggest that circ_0000231 induces cell proliferation, migration, invasion and activates the MAPK pathway in CC via CACNA1H. This highlights circ_0000231 as a therapeutic target in CC.
