Microarray Expression Profile of Circular RNAs in Plasma from Primary Biliary Cholangitis Patients

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Autoimmune Diseases Research

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their roles in various diseases, including autoimmune conditions.
• The specific involvement of circRNAs in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) pathogenesis remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile circRNA expression in plasma from PBC patients.
• To investigate the diagnostic potential of circRNAs for PBC.

Main Methods:

• CircRNA microarrays were employed to analyze plasma samples from PBC patients and healthy controls.
• Differential circRNA expression was identified and validated using qRT-PCR.
• circRNA-miRNA interactions were predicted using bioinformatics tools.

Main Results:

• A distinct circRNA expression profile was observed in PBC patients, with 18 upregulated and 4 downregulated circRNAs identified.
• hsa_circ_402458 was significantly upregulated in PBC patients and showed diagnostic potential (AUC=0.710).
• hsa_circ_402458 levels differed between PBC patients receiving and not receiving UDCA treatment.

Conclusions:

• circRNA dysregulation is likely involved in the pathogenesis of PBC.
• hsa_circ_402458 emerges as a promising candidate biomarker for PBC diagnosis.