Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis to Identify the Important Coding and Non-coding RNAs Involved in the Pathogenesis...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Pterygium is an ocular surface disease involving abnormal fibrovascular growth, with its molecular underpinnings, particularly RNA involvement, remaining unclear.
• Tumorigenesis involves altered RNA expression, prompting investigation into similar mechanisms in pterygium development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the roles of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in pterygium formation and progression.
• To identify key regulatory genes and RNA molecules involved in pterygium pathogenesis through comprehensive transcriptome analysis.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptome analysis of paired pterygium and normal conjunctiva tissues.
• Differential expression analysis for mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs.
• Functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network, and mRNA-lncRNA co-expression network analysis.

Main Results:

• 579 mRNAs, 275 lncRNAs, and 21 circRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in pterygium tissues.
• Enrichment analysis linked differentially expressed RNAs to extracellular matrix organization, blood vessel morphogenesis, and focal adhesion.
• Key genes (e.g., FN1, VCAM1, MMP2) and lncRNAs (e.g., MIR4435-2HG, LINC00968) were identified as potentially crucial in pterygium pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

• This study elucidates the significant involvement of various RNA types in pterygium development.
• Identified key RNAs provide a scientific foundation for understanding pterygium pathogenesis.
• The findings are beneficial for developing novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for pterygium.