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Published on: May 19, 2023
Identification of Circular RNA Expression Profiles in White Adipocytes and Their Roles in Adipogenesis
Peng-Peng Zhang1, Qiu Han1, Ming-Xuan Sheng1
1Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China.
Abstract:
Obesity and its related metabolic diseases have become great public health threats worldwide. Although accumulated evidence suggests that circRNA is a new type of non-coding RNAs regulating various physiological and pathological processes, little attention has been paid to the expression profiles and functions of circRNAs in white adipose tissue. In this study, 3,771 circRNAs were detected in three stages of white adipogenesis (preadipocyte, differentiating preadipocyte, and mature adipocyte) by RNA-seq. Experimental validation suggested that the RNA-seq results are highly reliable. We found that nearly 10% of genes which expressed linear RNAs in adipocytes could also generate circRNAs. In addition, 40% of them produced multiple circRNA isoforms. We performed correlation analysis and found that a great deal of circRNAs (nearly 50%) and their parental genes were highly correlated in expression levels. A total of 41 differential expression circRNAs (DECs) were detected during adipogenesis and an extremely high ratio of them (80%) were correlated with their parental genes, indicating these circRNAs may potentially play roles in regulating the expression of their parental genes. KEGG enrichment and GO annotation of the parental genes suggesting that the DECs may participate in several adipogenesis-related pathways. Following rigorous selection, we found that many up-regulated circRNAs contain multiple miRNAs binding sites, such as miR17, miR-30c, and miR-130, indicating they may potentially facilitate their regulatory functions by acting as miRNA sponges. These results suggest that plenty of circRNAs are expressed in white adipogenesis and the DECs may serve as new candidates for future adipogenesis regulation.
Insights
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are newly identified regulators in white adipose tissue. This study detected 3,771 circRNAs during adipogenesis, with many showing correlated expression to parental genes and potential roles in metabolic regulation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Metabolic Diseases
Background:
- Obesity and related metabolic diseases pose global health challenges.
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as key regulators in biological processes.
- The role of circRNAs in white adipose tissue (WAT) and adipogenesis remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression profiles and potential functions of circRNAs during white adipogenesis.
- To identify differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) and their parental genes involved in adipogenesis.
- To explore the regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs, such as miRNA sponging, in WAT.
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to profile circRNAs across three stages of adipogenesis.
- Quantitative analysis identified circRNA expression patterns and correlations with parental genes.
- Bioinformatic analyses, including KEGG and GO enrichment, were performed on parental genes of DECs.
- miRNA binding site prediction was used to assess potential miRNA sponge activity of circRNAs.
Main Results:
- A total of 3,771 circRNAs were identified in white adipocytes.
- Nearly 10% of genes expressing linear RNAs also produced circRNAs, with 40% generating multiple isoforms.
- Significant correlations were observed between the expression levels of approximately 50% of circRNAs and their parental genes.
- 41 DECs were detected during adipogenesis, with 80% showing co-expression with their parental genes.
- DECs' parental genes are implicated in adipogenesis-related pathways.
- Many upregulated circRNAs possess binding sites for miRNAs (e.g., miR-17, miR-30c, miR-130), suggesting a miRNA sponge function.
Conclusions:
- White adipogenesis involves the expression of a substantial number of circRNAs.
- DECs, particularly those correlated with parental genes, represent promising candidates for regulating adipogenesis.
- CircRNAs may influence adipogenesis by acting as miRNA sponges, modulating gene expression.
- These findings highlight circRNAs as novel players in white adipose tissue biology and potential therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.
