PDGF-BB promotes oral submucosal fibrosis by driving phenotypic transformation and autophagy in oral mucosal fibroblasts through downregulation of circHIPK3.

ABSTRACT: Circular RNA HIPK3 (circHIPK3), known to regulate cell proliferation, migration, transformation, and autophagy in various fibrotic conditions. However, its role has not been studied in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Therefore, we conducted this study to explore whether platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) induces human oral submucous fibroblasts (hOMF) proliferation, migration, transformation, and autophagy through circHIPK3 regulation. Treatment of hOMFs with PDGF-BB significantly increased circHIPK3 expression, promoting proliferation, migration, and autophagy. While inhibiting circHIPK3 mitigated these effects, confirming its role in PDGF-BB-mediated pathways. These findings reveal that PDGF-BB regulates hOMFs via circHIPK3, contributing to OSF pathogenesis and offering potential

SUBMITTER: Zhang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12048673 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature