circUQCRC2 promotes asthma progression in children by activating the VEGFA/NF-κB pathway by targeting miR-381-3p.

This study targeted to explore circUQCRC2's role and mechanism in childhood asthma. A mouse model of ovalbumin-induced asthma was established to evaluate the effects of circUQCRC2 on childhood asthma in terms of oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen deposition. The effects of circUQCRC2 on platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were evaluated, the downstream mRNA of miRNA and its associated pathways were predicted and validated, and their effects on asthmatic mice were evaluated.