Journal of Inflammation Research (Apr 2022)
Identification of a circRNA/miRNA/mRNA ceRNA Network as a Cell Cycle-Related Regulator for Chronic Sinusitis with Nasal Polyps
Abstract
Qi Sun,1,2,* Zhen Liu,1,2,* Xiangya Xu,1,* Yujuan Yang,1,2 Xiao Han,1,2 Cai Wang,1– 3 Fei Song,1,2,4 Yakui Mou,1,2 Yumei Li,1,2 Xicheng Song1,2 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, People’s Republic of China; 2Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Binzhou Medical University, Clinical Medical College Second, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xicheng Song; Yumei Li, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +860535-6691999, Fax +860535-6240341, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: To explore the mechanisms by which circRNA/miRNA/mRNA competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) networks regulate CRSwNP.Methods: The expression profiles of circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs from patients with CRSwNP and control subjects were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The circRNA/miRNA/mRNA ceRNA network was constructed based on the predicted circRNA–miRNA interactions and miRNA–mRNA interactions. Hub-mRNAs were screened by protein–protein interaction network analysis and Cytoscape molecular complex detection. The expression of factors in tissue and in hsa_circ_0031594 siRNA transfection cells was verified by RT-qPCR and the association between them was revealed by Spearman correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed with the pROC R package.Results: The differential expression of 5423 circRNAs, 415 miRNAs, and 3673 mRNAs was identified in CRSwNP subjects compared to control subjects. Among these, 9 circRNAs, 39 miRNAs, and 78 mRNAs were screened to construct a ceRNA network. Ultimately, a subnetwork including circRNA hsa_circ_0031594, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-miR-6507-5p, NCAPG2, RACGAP1, CHEK1 and PRC1 was screened out. RT-qPCR validated that the expression of hsa_circ_0031594, NCAPG2, PRC1 was significantly increased, and hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-miR-6507-5p were expressed significantly less in patients with CRSwNP than in control subjects. In addition, the AUCs of hsa_circ_0031594, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-miR-6507-5p, NCAPG2, and PRC1 to discriminate CRSwNP patients were 0.995, 0.842, 0.862, 0.765, and 0.816. Spearman correlation showed that the expression of hsa_circ_0031594 was negatively correlated with hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-miR-6507-5p, and positively correlated with NCAPG2 and PRC1. In human nasal epithelial cell (HNEpC) line, knocking down hsa_circ_0031594 could increase the expression of hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-miR-6507-5p, and reduce the expression of NCAPG2 and PRC1.Conclusion: CeRNA networks including hsa_circ_0031594, hsa-miR-1260b, and NCAPG2, and hsa_circ_0031594, hsa-miR-6507-5p, and PRC1 may be key regulators for CRSwNP occurrence, and may be potential targets for the pathogenesis and treatment development of CRSwNP.Keywords: circRNA, miRNA, mRNA, ceRNA network, CRSwNP