OncoTargets and Therapy (Dec 2020)
Profiling and Integrated Analysis of Differentially Expressed Circular RNAs in Plasma Exosomes as Novel Biomarkers for Advanced-Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma
Abstract
Shan Lin,1,2,* Wenji Xiong,3,* Huibo Liu,4 Liping Pei,5 Huanfa Yi,1 Yinghui Guan2 1Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Dermatology and Venerology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Echocardiography, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Huanfa YiCentral Laboratory, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin 130021, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected] GuanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin 130021, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: Exosomes contain abundant circRNAs and are determined to be involved in the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Thus, our study aimed to explore new circRNAs in plasma exosomes that could be involved in such pathogenesis.Patients and Methods: High-throughput sequencing was used in identifying the alterations in exosomal circRNA expression. Gene ontology functional analysis (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed to determine the significant functions and pathways associated with differentially expressed circRNAs. TargetScan and miRanda were used to predict circRNA-targeted microRNAs and mRNAs. CircRNA expression profiles were then validated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to determine the roles of has_circ_0102537 in LUAD progression.Results: We identified six significantly upregulated and 214 significantly downregulated circRNAs. GO and KEGG pathway analysis suggested that the differentially expressed circRNAs are involved in the occurrence and development of LUAD. A circRNA–miRNA–mRNA meshwork was established to predict the potential interactions among these RNAs. The circRNA expression profile was then subjected to qRT-PCR for validation. We identified hsa_circ_0102537 to be downregulated in both LUAD plasma exosomes and tissues. GO, KEGG pathway analysis, circRNA–miRNA–mRNA meshwork, and further experiments suggest that hsa_circ_0102537 could be involved in LUAD progression.Conclusion: Our study explored a large number of circRNAs that may be involved in the LUAD pathogenesis, thereby supporting the need for further research on both diagnosis biomarkers and the potential intervention therapeutic targets.Keywords: advanced-stage lung adenocarcinoma, plasma, exosomes, circular RNA, microRNA
