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Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
Published on: November 14, 2019
Circular RNA expression profiles following MC-LR treatment in human normal liver cell line (HL7702) cells using
Shuilin Zheng1, Cong Wen1, Shu Yang1
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Abstract:
Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a frequently occurring hepatotoxic cyanotoxin produced by cyanobacterial blooms, poses a great threat to human health. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying MC-LR-induced hepatotoxicity remain to be determined. Recent investigators found that in many human diseases circular RNAs (circRNAs) a class of endogenous non-coding RNAs played critical roles in disease outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether circRNAs were involved in MC-LR-mediated hepatotoxicity using human normal liver cell line (HL7702). Using high-throughput sequencing analysis data demonstrated that expression levels of 3250, 3111, 3097, 3253 circRNAs were significantly altered at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 µM MC-LR. Expression levels of hsa_circRNA_0000657 and hsa_circRNA_0000659 were down-regulated while hsa_circRNA_0003247 and hsa_circRNA_0001535 were up-regulated in all MC-LR-exposed groups. The high-throughput sequencing results of selected circRNAs differential expression genes (DEGs) levels were verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the functions of circRNAs significantly altered in HL7702 cells were predominantly associated with metabolism, systems development, and protein binding. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis data revealed that the target genes of differentially expressed circRNAs in HL7702 cells were involved in FoxO signaling pathway, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, Ras signaling pathway, cell cycle, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and pathways in cancer. In summary, evidence indicates that a correlation may exist between circRNAs and MC-LR-induced hepatotoxicity.
Insights
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) show altered expression in liver cells exposed to Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), suggesting their involvement in MC-LR-induced liver toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Hepatotoxicity research
- Molecular biology
- Non-coding RNA biology
Background:
- Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a prevalent cyanotoxin causing liver damage.
- The molecular mechanisms of MC-LR hepatotoxicity are not fully understood.
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in various human diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of circRNAs in Microcystin-LR (MC-LR)-induced hepatotoxicity.
- To identify specific circRNAs affected by MC-LR exposure in human liver cells.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing to analyze circRNA expression profiles in HL7702 cells.
- MC-LR exposure at varying concentrations (1-10 µM).
- Validation of differentially expressed circRNAs using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).
- Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses.
Main Results:
- Significant alterations in the expression of thousands of circRNAs were observed upon MC-LR exposure.
- Specific circRNAs (hsa_circRNA_0000657, hsa_circRNA_0000659, hsa_circRNA_0003247, hsa_circRNA_0001535) showed consistent up- or down-regulation.
- Enrichment analyses indicated involvement of altered circRNAs in metabolism, systems development, protein binding, and key signaling pathways (e.g., FoxO, Ras, PI3K-Akt, MAPK).
Conclusions:
- CircRNAs are significantly affected by MC-LR exposure in human liver cells.
- These differentially expressed circRNAs may play a role in the molecular mechanisms of MC-LR-induced hepatotoxicity.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise functions of these circRNAs in liver injury.
