Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40281642›Full record

ArticleArthritis research & therapy2025

circ_0002970 promotes fibroblast-like synoviocytes invasion and the inflammatory response through Hippo/YAP signaling to induce CTGF/CCN1 expression in rheumatoid arthritis.

Haoran Kong, Yushuang Qiao, Dahu Qi, Shixin Zhao, Zhiming Cao, Junhao Feng, Yitong Li, Yunke Liu, Tao Liu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Arthritis research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Haoran Kong *Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Yushuang Qiao *Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Dahu Qi *Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Shixin ZhaoZhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Zhiming CaoZhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Junhao FengZhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Yitong LiZhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Yunke LiuZhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. liuyunke@zzu.edu.
Tao LiuZhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. liutaogk@163.com.

Funding

Henan Provincial Key Research and Development Program 241111313400Henan Provincial Medical Science and Technology Research Program 232102310105
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by synovial inflammation, hyperplasia, and joint destruction. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are key effector cells in RA, contributing to synovial invasion, extracellular matrix degradation, and inflammatory cytokine secretion. Recent studies suggest that circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate cellular function and disease progression, but their role in RA remains unclear. The Hippo-YAP signaling pathway governs cell proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix remodeling, and its dysregulation is linked to RA synovial hyperplasia and inflammation. However, whether circRNAs regulate Hippo-YAP signaling in RA-FLSs has not been fully elucidated. This study investigates the role of circ_0002970 in RA progression and its regulation of the Hippo-YAP pathway.

methodsSynovial tissues from RA patients, osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and healthy controls were collected. Differentially expressed circRNAs were identified via RNA sequencing. The expression of circ_0002970 was validated via qRT‒PCR, FISH, and RNase R digestion assays. The functional experiments included transfection, migration/invasion assays, ELISA, and Western blotting to evaluate its role in RA-FLSs.

resultsCirc_0002970 was significantly upregulated in RA-FLSs. Knockdown of circ_0002970 suppressed RA-FLS migration, invasion, and IL-6 secretion. Mechanistically, circ_0002970 knockdown downregulated the expression of Hippo-YAP pathway components (YAP, CTGF, and CCN1) and decreased the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13, which are critical for cartilage degradation. Furthermore, verteporfin (VP)-mediated inhibition of Hippo-YAP reversed the effects of circ_0002970 overexpression.

conclusionThese findings highlight circ_0002970 as a novel regulator of RA-FLS migration, invasion, and inflammation via the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway.

Indexed as

Arthritis, RheumatoidConnective Tissue Growth FactorCysteine-Rich Protein 61RNA, CircularSynoviocytesAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingCell MovementCells, CulturedFemaleFibroblastsHippo Signaling PathwayHumansInflammationMaleMiddle AgedSignal TransductionAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingCCN1 protein, humanCCN2 protein, humanConnective Tissue Growth FactorCysteine-Rich Protein 61RNA, CircularTranscription FactorsYAP1 protein, humanYAP-Signaling Proteins

Identifiers

PMID40281642
PMCPMC12023364

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.