| Expression pattern: |
UP |
| Associated gene: |
ATG5, AGO2, EIF4A3 |
| Associated microRNA: |
miR-205-5p |
| Biological function: |
enhances protective autophagy; promotes proliferation; suppresses apoptosis; increases resistance to starvation stress; promotes tumor growth/progression |
| Molecular mechanism: |
Exosomal circTGFBR2 acts as a ceRNA/miRNA sponge, binding miR-205-5p (via AGO2) to relieve repression of ATG5, thereby enhancing ATG5-mediated protective autophagy and promoting HCC progression. |
| Biological pathway or process: |
autophagy (promotes); proliferation (promotes); apoptosis (inhibits); ceRNA regulation (promotes) |
| Detected method: |
Q
S
|
| Validation methods: |
RNA-seq; RT-qPCR; Back-Splice Junction PCR / divergent primers PCR; RNase R Treatment; Sanger Sequencing; Actinomycin D / DRB Stability Assay; RIP (RNA Immunoprecipitation); RNA Pull-Down; Luciferase Reporter Assay; FISH / smFISH; Transfection; Colony Formation Assay; Annexin V/PI Flow Cytometry; Western Blot; IHC (Immunohistochemistry); TUNEL; In Vivo Animal Model; Bioinformatics Analysis; Clinical Sample Validation |
| Clinical significance: |
Circulating exosomes from the HCC (TAE+) group contained higher levels of hsa_circ_0005224 (circTGFBR2) than those from normal and HCC (TAE-) groups; tissue expression was higher in patients receiving preoperative TAE. |
| Description: |
Exosomal circTGFBR2 (hsa_circ_0005224) is enriched under starvation stress and is upregulated in HCC patient samples (especially TAE+). It promotes HCC progression by sponging miR-205-5p to upregulate ATG5, enhancing protective autophagy and increasing starvation resistance, proliferation, and tumor growth. |
| Confidence score: |
0.8791 |