Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in the pathogenesis of various diseases by sponging microRNAs (miRs). However, the roles of circRNAs remain unreported in glomerular diseases. We previously reported that miR-150 positively correlated with renal chronicity index in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). We aimed to investigate renal circRNA profiling and the interaction between circRNAs and miR-150 in LN patients. Six renal biopsies from untreated female patients with LN class IV and five normal kidney tissues from urology patients were used for circRNA sequencing. 171 circRNAs with 2-fold differential expression were identified in LN compared with normal control. Ten selected circRNAs were validated by real-time qPCR, and seven circRNAs showed the same significant increases as the sequencing results. circHLA-C positively correlated with proteinuria (R = 0.92, p < 0.01), serum creatinine (R = 0.76, p = 0.08), renal activity index (R = 0.88, p < 0.05), and crescentic glomeruli (R = 0.93, p < 0.01). Renal circHLA-C increased 2.72-fold, and miR-150 decreased 66% in LN compared with normal control (p < 0.05). Bio-informatic analysis predicted miR-150 was regulated by circHLA-C and displayed one perfect match seed between circHLA-C and miR-150. The renal miR-150 showed a tendency of negative correlation with circHLA-C in LN patients. In conclusion, circHLA-C may play an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis by sponging miR-150.

环状RNA（circRNA）通过使microRNA（miR）变海绵参与各种疾病的发病机制。然而，在肾小球疾病中，尚未报道circRNA的作用。我们以前曾报道过，miR-150与狼疮性肾炎（LN）患者的肾脏慢性指数呈正相关。我们旨在研究LN患者的肾脏circRNA分析以及circRNA与miR-150之间的相互作用。circRNA测序使用了来自未经治疗的IV级LN女性患者的六个肾脏活检和来自泌尿科患者的五个正常肾脏组织。与正常对照相比，在LN中鉴定到171个具有2倍差异表达的circRNA。通过实时qPCR验证了10个选定的circRNA，并且有7个circRNA显示出与测序结果相同的显着增加。circHLA-C与蛋白尿（R = 0.92，p <0.01），血清肌酐（R = 0.76，p = 0.08），肾活动指数（R = 0.88，p <0.05）和新月形肾小球（R = 0.93， p <0.01）。与正常对照组相比，LN中的肾circHLA-C升高了2.72倍，miR-150降低了66％（p <0.05）。生物信息学分析预测miR-150受circHLA-C调控，显示出circHLA-C与miR-150之间的完美匹配种子。LN患者的肾脏miR-150与circHLA-C呈负相关趋势。总之，circHLA-C通过使miR-150变海绵可能在狼疮性肾炎的发病机理中起重要作用。与正常对照组相比，LN中的miR-150降低了66％（p <0.05）。生物信息学分析预测miR-150受circHLA-C调控，显示出circHLA-C与miR-150之间的完美匹配种子。LN患者的肾脏miR-150与circHLA-C呈负相关趋势。总之，circHLA-C通过使miR-150变海绵可能在狼疮性肾炎的发病机理中起重要作用。与正常对照组相比，LN中的miR-150降低了66％（p <0.05）。生物信息学分析预测miR-150受circHLA-C调控，显示出circHLA-C与miR-150之间的完美匹配种子。LN患者的肾脏miR-150与circHLA-C呈负相关趋势。总之，circHLA-C通过使miR-150变海绵可能在狼疮性肾炎的发病机理中起重要作用。