Fig. 10

In GC, circPTPN22 is negatively regulated by the transcription factor RUNX1 and positively regulated by the RNA-binding proteins FUS and ELAVL1. Through the miR-6788-5p/PAK1 axis, circPTPN22 activates the phosphorylation of Akt and Erk and inhibits autophagy. Moreover, the inhibition of autophagy creates a positive feedback loop that increases FUS expression, which in turn further enhances circPTPN22 expression. This ultimately exacerbates the progression of GC