BAX and rheumatoid arthritis: Conversely, the apoptosis of RA-FLSs was remarkably promoted by the downregulation of circASH2L, evidenced by the increase of apoptotic cells (Fig. 2d), Bax, c-caspase-3 protein expression, and decreased of Bcl-2 expression (Fig. 2e) in the si-circASH2L group.