Objective: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) function as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for coronary artery disease due to their high stability, covalently closed structure and potential gene regulation. We aimed to identify the expression profile and role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: We performed RNA sequence analysis of circRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 5 CAD patients and 5 controls. Bioinformatics analyses was adopted to explore biological functions of differentially expressed circRNAs. The miRanda and TargetScan tools were used to predict the miRNA targeting interactions and to construct a triple network of differentially expressed gene-circRNA-miRNA-mRNA. Results: In total, 13160 downregulated and 12905 upregulated circRNAs were identified in CAD. A gene ontology annotation analysis showed that genes in the network were involved in organelle organization, cell cycle, mitotic cycle and cellular metabolic process. Parental genes of the 10 dysregulated-circRNAs were involved in metabolism and protein modification, and these circRNAs might regulate gene expression associated with CAD via miRNA sponges. Conclusion: As potential ceRNAs, dysregulated circRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of CAD, which provides new insights into diagnosis and prognosis of coronary artery disease.

中文翻译：

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冠心病患者外周血单个核细胞环状RNA表达特征

目的：环状 RNA (circRNA) 因其高稳定性、共价闭合结构和潜在的基因调控而成为冠状动脉疾病的有前途的生物标志物和治疗靶点。我们旨在确定环状 RNA (circRNA) 在冠状动脉疾病 (CAD) 中的表达谱和作用。方法：我们对 5 名 CAD 患者和 5 名对照的外周血单个核细胞中的 circRNA 进行了 RNA 序列分析。采用生物信息学分析来探索差异表达的circRNA的生物学功能。miRanda 和 TargetScan 工具用于预测 miRNA 靶向相互作用并构建差异表达基因-circRNA-miRNA-mRNA 的三重网络。结果：在 CAD 中总共鉴定出 13160 个下调和 12905 个上调 circRNA。基因本体注释分析表明，网络中的基因参与细胞器组织、细胞周期、有丝分裂周期和细胞代谢过程。10个失调的circRNA的亲本基因参与代谢和蛋白质修饰，这些circRNA可能通过miRNA海绵调节与CAD相关的基因表达。结论：作为潜在的 ceRNAs，失调的 circRNAs 可能参与 CAD 的发病机制，为冠状动脉疾病的诊断和预后提供新的见解。这些circRNA可能通过miRNA海绵调节与CAD相关的基因表达。结论：作为潜在的 ceRNAs，失调的 circRNAs 可能参与 CAD 的发病机制，为冠状动脉疾病的诊断和预后提供新的见解。这些circRNA可能通过miRNA海绵调节与CAD相关的基因表达。结论：作为潜在的 ceRNAs，失调的 circRNAs 可能参与 CAD 的发病机制，为冠状动脉疾病的诊断和预后提供新的见解。