CircARHGAP12 triggers MSC autophagy to facilitate its effect on repairing diabetic wounds by sponging miR-301b-3p/ATG16L1 and miR-301b-3p/ULK2

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to play critical roles in the development and progression of human diseases. However, the role of circRNAs in regulating MSCs (mesenchymal stromal cells) to repair diabetic wounds remains unclear. Here, we showed that MSCs subjected to high glucose stress showed an obvious decrease in circARHGAP12, while circARHGAP12-mediated autophagy inhibited high glucose-induced apoptosis of MSCs. Mechanistically, circARHGAP12 could directly interact with miR-301b-3p, and subsequently act as a miRNA sponge to regulate the expression of the miR-301b-3p target genes ATG16L1 and ULK2 and the downstream signaling pathway. Furthermore, circARHGAP12 led to a decrease in apoptosis of MSCs in wounds and promoted wound healing. Taken together, these data indicated that circARHGAP12/ miR-301b-3p/ATG16L1 and ULK2 regulatory networks may be a potential therapeutic target for MSCs in repairing diabetic wounds. To generate a circRNA profiling database, high glucose induced MSCs and control MSCs were selected for circRNA analysis.