circHIPK3 promotes pro-fibrotic epithelial reprogramming via the miR-29a-3p/SPARC axis with associated enhancement of TGF-β/SMAD signaling
Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is fatal with limited treatments. circHIPK3 is upregulated in fibrotic lungs, but its role in lung epithelial cells and connection to TGF-β/SMAD signaling are unclear. Methods We used TGF-β1-stimulated lung epithelial cells (A549, BEAS-2B) and a bleomycin-induced mouse mod...