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Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Author Spotlight: Developing a Rat Model for Weight-Bearing Intervention to Investigate Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Published on: September 27, 2024
Expression Profile Analysis of Differentially Expressed Circular RNAs in Steroid-Induced Osteonecrosis of the Femoral
Zhongxin Zhu1,2, Wenxi Du3, Huan Yu1,2
1Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China.
Background:
A growing number of studies have suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers in many diseases. However, the role of circRNAs in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) has not been reported.
Methods:
Secondary sequencing was performed to profile circRNA expression in peripheral blood samples from three SONFH patients and three healthy individuals. We confirmed our preliminary findings by qRT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to predict their functions.
Results:
The result showed 345 dysregulated circRNAs. qRT-PCR of eight selected circRNAs preliminarily confirmed the results, which were consistent with RNA sequencing. Bioinformatics analyses were performed to predict the functions of circRNAs to target the genes of miRNAs and the networks of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions.
Conclusions:
This study provides a new and fundamental circRNA profile of SONFH and a theoretical basis for further studies on the functions of circRNAs in SONFH.
Insights
This study identifies 345 dysregulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH), offering new diagnostic biomarkers. These findings provide a foundation for understanding circRNA functions in SONFH.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as potential diagnostic biomarkers across various diseases.
- The role of circRNAs in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the circRNA expression profile in patients with SONFH.
- To identify potential circRNA biomarkers for SONFH diagnosis.
- To explore the functional implications of dysregulated circRNAs in SONFH.
Main Methods:
- circRNA expression profiling using secondary sequencing on peripheral blood samples from SONFH patients and healthy controls.
- Validation of differentially expressed circRNAs using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).
- Bioinformatics analysis to predict circRNA functions and interaction networks (circRNA-miRNA-mRNA).
Main Results:
- Identification of 345 dysregulated circRNAs in SONFH patients compared to healthy controls.
- qRT-PCR confirmed the expression patterns of eight selected circRNAs, consistent with sequencing data.
- Bioinformatics analysis predicted potential functions of these circRNAs, including targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) and forming complex interaction networks.
Conclusions:
- This study establishes a novel circRNA profile for SONFH.
- The identified circRNAs represent potential diagnostic biomarkers for SONFH.
- Provides a theoretical basis for future research into the functional roles of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of SONFH.
