# Role of circ_0012856 in modulating molecular pathways of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

## TL;DR

This study identifies circ_0012856 as a key circular RNA involved in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, offering potential for new treatments.

## Contribution

The study reveals circ_0012856's role in DPN via miR-124 sponging and its impact on molecular pathways.

## Key findings

- circ_0012856 regulates EZH2 and STAT3 expressions, inhibiting autophagy and promoting microglial M1 polarization.
- Silencing circ_0012856 alleviates DPN symptoms in diabetic mice.
- circ_0012856 acts as a miR-124 sponge, affecting key pathways in DPN progression.

## Abstract

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a common complication of diabetes mellitus, involves complex molecular pathways and the ceRNA regulatory network. Integration of diabetes‐related circRNA datasets identified circ_0012856 as pivotal via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and support vector machine recursive feature elimination algorithms. Functional enrichment analyses elucidated its involvement in DPN pathogenesis. In vitro studies showed circ_0012856 regulating EZH2 and STAT3 expressions, inhibiting autophagy, and promoting microglial M1 polarization. In vivo, experiments revealed silencing circ_0012856 alleviating DPN symptoms in diabetic mice. Overall, circ_0012856 acts as a miR‐124 sponge, affecting key pathways in DPN progression and providing potential therapeutic targets.