Comprehensive circular RNA profiling reveals circ_0002060 as a potential diagnostic biomarkers for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (OP) is a multifactorial and common bone disease worldwide. The clinical diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis has limitations since changes in bone density occur slightly. Thus, it is critically needed to look for new biomarkers to identify and cure osteoporosis. CircRNAs are important molecular regulators that participate in various biological processes and present tremendous therapeutic potential. The role of circRNAs in osteoporosis remains largely unknown. Here, we explore the expression of circRNAs in osteoporosis using microarray analysis, and identify potential circRNAs associated with osteoporosis by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation and statistical analysis in clinical samples. As a result, circ_0006873 and circ_0002060 were found to be significantly upregulated between nonosteoporotic controls and osteoporosis patients (n = 40, respectively). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the level of circ_0006873 and circ_0002060 were associated with the low-bone mineral density in patients with osteoporosis. Furthermore, ROC analysis indicated that circ_0002060 showed potential diagnostic value for osteoporosis. Taken together results using bioinformatics, experimental analysis, and disease models, we revealed that circ_0002060 could be used as potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in osteoporosis.