Analysis of a circRNA-, miRNA-, and mRNA-associated ceRNA network reveals potential biomarkers in preeclampsia a ceRNA network in preeclampsia
Creators: name: Xu, Xiaoxiao
name: Lv, Sha
name: Xiao, Ziwen
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Genetics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Information Systems not elsewhere classified

description: Preeclampsia (PE), one of hypertension-related disorders of pregnancy, is a common cause of maternal death worldwide. This study aimed to identify a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA-associated ceRNA network and related pathways in PE. We downloaded 3 microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, obtained 163 differentially expressed circRNAs (dif-circRNAs) (61 upregulated and 102 downregulated), 39 differentially expressed microRNAs (dif-miRNAs) (22 upregulated and 17 downregulated), and 271 differentially expressed mRNAs (dif-mRNAs) (168 upregulated and 103 downregulated) from placenta tissues of PE. Functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network with module analysis of dif-mRNAs were performed. The regulatory relationship between dif-miRNAs and dif-mRNAs/circRNAs was predicted <i>via</i> related databases. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed. A total of 53 pairs were obtained, including 13 circRNAs (10 upregulated and 3 downregulated), 9 miRNAs (3 upregulated and 6 downregulated) and 31 mRNAs (22 upregulated and 9 downregulated). GNB5 and IL2RB were obtained. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that both of them were closely related with the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway. Therefore, ceRNAs might affect the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway <i>via</i> the upregulation of GNB5 by binding to miR-1248 in PE. Meanwhile, hsa_circ_0052661 might upregulate IL2RB by binding miR-4303 to play a role in PE in the same way. GNB5 and IL2RB might be key genes involved in the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway in PE, and hsa_circ_0087208, hsa_circ_0035443, hsa_circ_0067557 and hsa_circ_0052661 might regulate these key genes in PE by binding miR-1248 or miR-4303.Key messagesThere is still a lack of predictive and diagnostic factors for preeclampsia, which is a common cause of maternal death worldwide.This study identified a novel circRNA-associated ceRNA network and related pathways in preeclampsia.GNB5 and IL2RB might be key genes in their related circRNA-associated ceRNA network, and probably take an important role in preeclampsia via PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, which made them to be potential markers of preeclampsia. There is still a lack of predictive and diagnostic factors for preeclampsia, which is a common cause of maternal death worldwide. This study identified a novel circRNA-associated ceRNA network and related pathways in preeclampsia. GNB5 and IL2RB might be key genes in their related circRNA-associated ceRNA network, and probably take an important role in preeclampsia via PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, which made them to be potential markers of preeclampsia.