Circular RNA FCHO2 promotes airway remodeling in COPD via regulating nuclear translocation of PTBP1 to repress the splicing of GRN pre-mRNA.

ABSTRACT: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as key regulators in human diseases, yet their mechanisms of action in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain largely unknown. In this study, the conserved mammalian circRNA circFCHO2 was shown to play critical roles in COPD. The expression level of circFCHO2 was significantly increased in COPD cell models, mouse models, and human lung tissue samples. Moreover, we demonstrated that circFCHO2 promotes epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT) in bronchial epithelial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Mechanistically, circFCHO2 binds to and facilitates the nuclear translocation of PTBP1, thereby inhibiting the splicing of GRN pre-mRNA, which reduces PGRN protein expression levels and activates the NF-κB pathway. This activation o

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12583663 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature