Identification of circular RNA BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 as a novel biomarker for coronary artery disease and the functional discovery of BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 based on peripheral blood mononuclear cells: a case control study

Identification and verification of circRNA biomarkers for coronary artery disease based on WGCNA and the LASSO algorithm

BACKGROUND

The role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) as biomarkers of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains poorly explored. This study aimed to identify and validate potential circulating circRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis of CAD.

METHODS

The expression profile of circRNAs associated with CAD was obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operation (LASSO) were employed to identify CAD-related hub circRNAs. The expression levels of these hub circRNAs were validated using qRT-PCR in blood samples from 100 CAD patients and 100 controls. The diagnostic performance of these circRNAs was evaluated through logistic regression analysis, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and net reclassification improvement (NRI). Functional enrichment analyses were performed to predict the possible mechanisms of circRNAs in CAD.

RESULTS

A total of ten CAD-related hub circRNAs were identified through WGCNA and LASSO analysis. Among them, hsa_circ_0069972 and hsa_circ_0021509 were highly expressed in blood samples of CAD patients, and they were identified as independent predictors after adjustment for relevant confounders. The area under the ROC curve for hsa_circ_0069972 and hsa_circ_0021509 was 0.760 and 0.717, respectively. The classification of patients was improved with the incorporation of circRNAs into the clinical model composed of conventional cardiovascular risk factors, showing an IDI of 0.131 and NRI of 0.170 for hsa_circ_0069972, and an IDI of 0.111 and NRI of 0.150 for hsa_circ_0021509. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that the hsa_circ_0069972-miRNA-mRNA network was enriched in TGF-β、FoxO and Hippo signaling pathways, while the hsa_circ_0021509-miRNA-mRNA network was enriched in PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

Hsa_circ_0069972 and hsa_circ_0021509 were identified by integrated analysis, and they are highly expressed in CAD patients. They may serve as novel biomarkers for CAD.

Circular RNA Expression of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Associated with Risk of Acute Exacerbation in Smoking Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Purpose

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are newly identified endogenous non-coding RNAs that function as crucial gene modulators in the development of several diseases. By assessing the expression levels of circRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this study attempted to find new biomarkers for COPD screening.

Patients and Methods

We confirmed altered circRNA expression in PBMCs of COPD (n=41) vs controls (n=29). Further analysis focused on the highest and lowest circRNA expression levels. The T-test is used to assess the statistical variances in circRNAs among COPD patients in the smoking and non-smoking cohorts. Additionally, among smokers, the Spearman correlation test assesses the association between circRNAs and clinical indicators.

Results

Two circRNAs, hsa_circ_0042590 and hsa_circ_0049875, that were highly upregulated and downregulated in PBMCs from COPD patients were identified and verified. Smokers with COPD had lower hsa_circ_0042590 and higher hsa_circ_0049875, in comparison to non-smokers. There was a significant correlation (r=0.52, P<0.01) between the number of acute exacerbations (AEs) that smokers with COPD experienced in the previous year and the following year (r=0.67, P<0.001). Moreover, hsa_circ_0049875 was connected to the quantity of AEs in the year prior (r=0.68, P<0.0001) as well as the year after (r=0.72, P<0.0001). AUC: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.1210-0.3209, P<0.0001) for hsa_circ_0049875 showed a strong diagnostic value for COPD, according to ROC curve analysis. Hsa_circ_0042590 showed a close second with an AUC of 0.83 and 95% CI: -0.1972--0.0739 (P <0.0001).

Conclusion

This research identified a strong correlation between smoking and hsa_circ_0049875 and hsa_circ_0042590 in COPD PBMCs. The number of AEs in the preceding and succeeding years was substantially linked with the existence of hsa_circ_0042590 and hsa_circ_0049875 in COPD patients who smoke. Additionally, according to our research, hsa_circ_0049875 and hsa_circ_0042590 may be valuable biomarkers for COPD diagnosis.

Non-coding RNAs in disease: from mechanisms to therapeutics

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a heterogeneous group of transcripts that, by definition, are not translated into proteins. Since their discovery, ncRNAs have emerged as important regulators of multiple biological functions across a range of cell types and tissues, and their dysregulation has been implicated in disease. Notably, much research has focused on the link between microRNAs (miRNAs) and human cancers, although other ncRNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are also emerging as relevant contributors to human disease. In this Review, we summarize our current understanding of the roles of miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in cancer and other major human diseases, notably cardiovascular, neurological and infectious diseases. Further, we discuss the potential use of ncRNAs as biomarkers of disease and as therapeutic targets.

Exploration and bioinformatic prediction for profile of mRNA bound to circular RNA BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 in coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

As a novel circRNA, BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 has not been fully investigated in coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim is to reveal the possible functional role and regulatory pathway of BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 in CAD via exploring genes combined with BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563.

METHODS

A total of 45 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples of CAD patients were enrolled. The ChIRP-RNAseq assay was performed to directly explore genes bound to BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were conducted to reveal possible functions of these genes. The interaction network was constructed by the STRING database and the Cytoscape software. The Cytoscape software were used again to identify clusters and hub genes of genes bound to BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563. The target miRNAs of hub genes were predicted via online databases.

RESULTS

In this study, a total of 221 mRNAs directly bound to BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 were identified in PBMCs of CAD patients via ChIRP-RNAseq. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that these mRNAs may participate in translation and necroptosis. Moreover, the interaction network showed that there may be a close relationship between these mRNAs. Eight clusters can be further subdivided from the interaction network. RPS3 and RPSA were identified as hub genes and hsa-miR-493-5p was predicted to be the target miRNA of RPS3.

CONCLUSIONS

BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 and mRNAs directly bound to it may influence the initiation and progression of CAD, among which RPS3 and RPSA may be hub genes. These findings may provide innovative ideas for further research on CAD.

Exosome-mediated transfer of circRNA563 promoting hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting the microRNA148a-3p/metal-regulatory transcription factor-1 pathway

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert anti-oncogenic effects via exosomes containing non-coding RNA (ncRNA), which play important roles in tumor biology. Our preliminary study identified the interaction of the ncRNA hsa_circ_0000563 (circ563) and the circ563-associated miR-148a-3p in exosomes, as miR-148a-3p and its target metal-regulatory transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) are implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.

AIM

To identify the clinical significance, functional implications, and mechanisms of circ563 in HCC.

METHODS

The expression levels of miR-148a-3p and MTF-1 in exosomes derived from MSC and HCC cells were compared, and their effects on HCC cells were assessed. Using a dual-luciferase reporter assay, miR-148a-3p was identified as an associated microRNA of circ563, whose role in HCC regulation was assessed in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

The silencing of circ563 blocked the HCC cell proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis. Co-culturing of HCC cells with MSC-derived exosomes following circ563 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and metastasis and elicited changes in miR-148a-3p and MTF-1 expression. The tumor-promoting effects of circ563 were partially suppressed by miR-148a-3p overexpression or MTF-1 depletion. Xenograft experiments performed in nude mice confirmed that circ563-enriched exosomes facilitated tumor growth by upregulating the expression of MTF-1. In HCC tissues, circ563 expression was negatively correlated with miR-148a-3p expression but positively correlated with MTF-1 levels.

CONCLUSION

MSCs may exhibit anti-HCC activity through the exosomal circ563/miR-148a-3p/MTF-1 pathway, while exosomes can transmit circ563 to promote oncogenic behavior by competitively binding to miR-148a-3p to activate MTF-1.

Circular RNAs Variously Participate in Coronary Atherogenesis

Over the past decade, numerous studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a significant role in coronary artery atherogenesis and other cardiovascular diseases. They belong to the class of non-coding RNAs and arise as a result of non-canonical splicing of premature RNA, which results in the formation of closed single-stranded circRNA molecules that lack 5'-end caps and 3'-end poly(A) tails. circRNAs have broad post-transcriptional regulatory activity. Acting as a sponge for miRNAs, circRNAs compete with mRNAs for binding to miRNAs, acting as competing endogenous RNAs. Numerous circRNAs are involved in the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes associated with the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy, chronic heart failure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease. Recent studies have shown that сirc_0001445, circ_0000345, circ_0093887, сircSmoc1-2, and circ_0003423 are involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) with an atheroprotective effect, while circ_0002984, circ_0029589, circ_0124644, circ_0091822, and circ_0050486 possess a proatherogenic effect. With their high resistance to endonucleases, circRNAs are promising diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This review aims to provide updated information on the involvement of atherogenesis-related circRNAs in the pathogenesis of CAD. We also discuss the main modern approaches to detecting and studying circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions, as well as the prospects for using circRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Diagnostic value of circRNA in coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis

Aim: Studies have indicated that circRNAs have diagnostic value for coronary heart disease (CHD), but the efficacy varies greatly; therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of circRNAs in CHD. Materials & methods: 16 studies with 3962 subjects (2239 cases and 1723 controls) were included by searching PubMed, Web of Science and MEDLINE. The pooled sensitivity and specificity, summary receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were calculated. Results: The pooled area under the curve of circRNAs for the diagnosis of CHD was 0.80 (sensitivity and specificity were 0.77 and 0.68, respectively), and more indexes were calculated. Conclusion: circRNAs may be good biomarkers for diagnosing CHD.

The Role of BTBD7 in Normal Development and Tumor Progression

BTB/POZ domain-containing protein 7 (BTBD7) has a relative molecular weight of 126KD and contains two conserved BTB/POZ protein sequences. BTBD7 has been shown to play an essential role in normal human development, precancerous lesions, heat-stress response, and tumor progression. BTBD7 promotes branching morphogenesis during development and participates in the salivary gland, lung, and tooth formation. Furthermore, many studies have shown that aberrant expression of BTBD7 promotes heat stress response and the progression of precancerous lesions. BTBD7 has also been found to play an important role in cancer. High expression of BTBD7 affects tumor progression by regulating multiple pathways. Therefore, a complete understanding of BTBD7 is crucial for exploring human development and tumor progression. This paper reviews the research progress of BTBD7, which lays a foundation for the application of BTBD7 in regenerative medicine and as a biomarker for tumor prediction or potential therapeutic target.