Previous studies have shown that circRNA_0084043 contributes to diabetic retinopathy progression through miR-140-3p sponging and the induction of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) gene expression in retinal pigment epithelial cells [16], and silencing circ-ZNF609 ameliorates vascular endothelial dysfunction [17]. The gene discussed is TGFA; the disease is diabetic retinopathy.