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Updated: Jul 27, 2025

In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions
Published on: October 21, 2022
circGFRA1: A circular RNA with important roles in human carcinogenesis
Sheyda Khalilian1, Zahra Mohajer2, Mohammad Amin Khazeei Tabari3
1Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; USERN Office, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of covalently closed RNA molecules, which are mainly formed by back splicing of a precursor mRNA upstream exon into a downstream exon. Abnormally expressed circRNAs can modulate gene transcription by indirectly interacting with microRNAs (miRNAs). According to the current studies, circGFRA1 has been suggested to be upregulated in various cancers. circGFRA1 (hsa_circ_005239) is a type of cancer-related circRNA, which is predicted to be originated from the GFRA1 on chromosome 10. circGFRA1 can act as a sponge for several miRNAs, including miR-34a, miR-1228, miR-361-5p, miR-149, miR-498, miR-188-3p, miR-3064-5p, miR-449a. Additionally, it can regulate signaling pathways such as TGF-β and PI3K/ AKT. circGFRA1 upregulation has been correlated with patients' poor overall survival in diverse cancers. In the present review, we have summarized the oncogenic effect of circGFRA1 in various cancers according to the adopted criteria from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis was performed on the circGFRA1 host gene and its protein interaction network to detect gene ontology and related pathways.
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