CLDN8 and inflammatory bowel disease: Genome-wide analyses have revealed that circHIPK3 significantly downregulated in IBD and sepsis patients, circHIPK3 sponges miR-29b to derepress pro-repair effectors (Rac1, Cdc42, Cyclin B1), restoring the migratory and proliferative capacities of intestinal epithelial cells (30).Specific circRNAs, such as,circ_0001021 and circ_0007919,preserve barrier integrity by modulating Smad4,ZO-1,CLDN-2,CLDN-8,VIPR1, and EPC1 expression through miRNA-dependent mechanisms, with particular therapeutic relevance in UC (22, 36).This ceRNA mechanism plays a pivotal role in repairing mucosal damage in IBD.