| Expression pattern: |
UP |
| Associated gene: |
SP1, NG2, CSPG4, LOXL2, CDK2 |
| Associated microRNA: |
miR-29a-3p, miR-498, miR-758 |
| Biological function: |
cZNF532 maintains pericyte viability, proliferation, differentiation and recruitment toward endothelial cells, protects pericytes from diabetic stress-induced apoptosis, and ameliorates diabetes-induced retinal pericyte degeneration and vascular dysfunction. |
| Molecular mechanism: |
SP1 activates cZNF532 transcription under diabetic stress; cytoplasmic cZNF532 acts as a miR-29a-3p sponge, reducing miR-29a-3p activity and increasing NG2/CSPG4, LOXL2, and CDK2 expression. |
| Biological pathway or process: |
ceRNA regulation (other); proliferation (promotes); apoptosis (inhibits); cell cycle (promotes); migration (promotes); inflammation (inhibits); other pathway/process (inhibits) |
| Detected method: |
Q
M
|
| Validation methods: |
Microarray; RT-qPCR; Sanger Sequencing; RNase R Treatment; Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Fractionation; Clinical Sample Validation; FISH / smFISH; Luciferase Reporter Assay; Bioinformatics Analysis; ChIP / ChIP-seq; Transfection; MTT; Cell Cycle Assay; IF (Immunofluorescence); In Vivo Animal Model; ELISA |
| Clinical significance: |
cZNF532 expression is upregulated in the vitreous of patients with DME, PDR, or NVI, correlates with disease severity, and is proposed as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of DR. |
| Description: |
cZNF532 is a high glucose- and diabetic stress-induced circRNA derived from ZNF532 that is upregulated in pericytes, diabetic mouse retinal vessels, and vitreous from patients with diabetic retinopathy. It protects retinal pericyte function and vascular integrity through a cZNF532/miR-29a-3p/NG2-LOXL2-CDK2 ceRNA mechanism, and its vitreous expression correlates with DR severity. |
| Confidence score: |
0.8237 |