As TGFBR2 serves as a key mediator of TGF-β1 signaling and inhibiting its function or downregulating its expression has been shown to ameliorate IPF (Romero-Gallo et al. 2005; Marchal-Duval et al. 2023; Fierro-Fernandez et al. 2015), our study provides fundamental evidence elucidating the role and mechanism of circGRHPR in LECs. The gene discussed is TGFBR2; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.