{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,12]],"date-time":"2025-11-12T05:27:42Z","timestamp":1762925262091,"version":"3.45.0"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"22","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]],"date-time":"2025-11-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762732800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001322","name":"South African Medical Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["A1H347"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["A1H347"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001322","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001321","name":"National Research Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["N1G655"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N1G655"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001321","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001343","name":"University of Pretoria","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["A1H211","A1F812"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["A1H211","A1F812"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001343","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Cervical cancer (CCa) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide, with nearly 90% of cases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores the roles of circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs), hsa_circ_0001038 and circRNA_400029, and the impact of the serine\/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) inhibitor, theophylline, in CCa cell lines. We utilized cell cycle fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and Annexin V\/propidium iodide (PI) assays to evaluate theophylline\u2019s effects on SiHa and C33A cell lines. Results showed S-phase arrest in SiHa and G2\/M arrest in C33A, with significant cytotoxic effects indicated by apoptosis analysis. Using CircAtlas, we identified micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) binding to hsa_circ_0001038, particularly miR-205-5p, which has a tumour-suppressive role. miRTarBase identified miR-16-5p as a key interacting miRNA for circRNA_400029. We constructed a competing endogenous ribonucleic acid (ceRNA) network, revealing multiple miRNA targets. Pathway analysis via the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) highlighted critical signalling pathways involved in CCa oncogenesis. In conclusion, theophylline demonstrates cytotoxicity in CCa cells, suggesting its potential for repurposing in CCa theranostics, though further optimization is necessary.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms262210883","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]],"date-time":"2025-11-10T08:57:55Z","timestamp":1762765075000},"page":"10883","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Elucidating Circular Ribonucleic Acid Mechanisms Associated with Splicing Factor 3 Inhibition in Cervical Cancer"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9678-6797","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amahle","family":"Nyalambisa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), DSI\/NRF SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention, SAMRC Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU), University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa"},{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Babatunde Adebola","family":"Alabi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), DSI\/NRF SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention, SAMRC Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU), University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8012-3646","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zodwa","family":"Dlamini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), DSI\/NRF SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention, SAMRC Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU), University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5050-7350","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rahaba","family":"Marima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), DSI\/NRF SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention, SAMRC Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU), University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"505","article-title":"Cervical cancer prevention and control in women living with human immunodeficiency virus","volume":"71","author":"Castle","year":"2021","journal-title":"CA Cancer J. 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