Mechanistically, we found that circ-UBE2K binds to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU) to form a complex that upregulates the expression of the parental gene ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 K (UBE2K), leading to abnormal microglial activation and neuroinflammation and promoting the occurrence and development of depression. The gene discussed is UBE2K; the disease is depressive symptom measurement.