Unveiling the LncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network in Arsenic-Induced Nerve Injury in Rats through High-Throughput Sequencing
Fang Chu,
Chunqing Lu,
Zhe Jiao,
Wenjing Yang,
Xiyue Yang,
Hao Ma,
Hao Yu,
Sheng Wang,
Yang Li,
Dianjun Sun,
Hongna Sun
Affiliations
Fang Chu
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Chunqing Lu
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Zhe Jiao
Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health & Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Wenjing Yang
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Xiyue Yang
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Hao Ma
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Hao Yu
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Sheng Wang
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Yang Li
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Dianjun Sun
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Hongna Sun
Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
Arsenic is a natural toxin which is widely distributed in the environment, incurring diverse toxicities and health problems. Previous studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are also reported to contribute to As-induced adverse effects. LncRNAs are involved in the development of nerve injury, generally acting as sponges for microRNAs (miRNAs). This study aimed to investigate the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks associated with arsenic-induced nerve damage. A total of 40 male Wistar rats were exposed to different doses of arsenic for 12 weeks, and samples were collected for pathological observation and high-throughput sequencing. The ceRNA network was constructed using Cytoscape, and key genes were identified through the PPI network and CytoHubba methods. A real-time quantitative PCR assay was performed to validate gene expression levels. The results showed that subchronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water resulted in pathological and ultrastructural damage to the hippocampal tissue, including changes in neuron morphology, mitochondria, and synapses. Exposure to arsenic results in the dysregulation of LncRNA and mRNA expression in the hippocampal tissues of rats. These molecules participated in multiple ceRNA axes and formed a network of ceRNAs associated with nerve injury. This study also verified key molecules within the ceRNA network and provided preliminary evidence implicating the ENRNOT-00000022622-miR-206-3p-Bdnf axis in the mechanism of neural damage induced by arsenic in rats. These findings provide novel insights into the underlying mechanism of nervous system damage induced by arsenic exposure.
