Dysregulated circRNAs in plasma from active tuberculosis patients

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Immunology

Background:

• Endogenous circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in various diseases.
• The role of circRNAs in active tuberculosis (TB) pathogenesis is not yet understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the plasma circRNA expression profile in active TB.
• To identify potential circRNA biomarkers for active TB diagnosis.
• To elucidate the role of circRNAs in active TB pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• CircRNA expression profiling using circRNA microarrays in active TB plasma.
• Validation of dysregulated circRNAs via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).
• Bioinformatic analysis for circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions, gene ontology (GO), and KEGG pathway analysis.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for diagnostic value assessment.

Main Results:

• A total of 75 circRNAs were significantly dysregulated in active TB plasma.
• Hsa_circRNA_103571 showed a significant decrease in active TB patients.
• Hsa_circRNA_103571 interacts with TB-related microRNAs (miRNAs) like miR-29a and miR-16.
• Bioinformatics analysis linked hsa_circRNA_103571 to pathways including ras signaling and T-/B-cell receptor signaling.
• ROC analysis indicated hsa_circRNA_103571 has significant diagnostic value for active TB.

Conclusions:

• Circulating circRNA dysregulation is associated with active TB pathogenesis.
• Hsa_circRNA_103571 demonstrates potential as a diagnostic biomarker for active TB.
• circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions may reveal novel mechanisms underlying active TB.