Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025
Isolation and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Neuroimmune Interactions in a Mini-Stroke Murine Model
Published on: June 20, 2025
Integrated Analysis of Immune-Related circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network in Ischemic Stroke
Si Cao1, Youjie Zeng1, Minghua Chen1
1Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Background:
Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with ischemic stroke (IS) being the most prevalent type. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathological process of IS and are promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of IS. However, studies focusing on circRNAs acting as microRNAs (miRNAs) sponges in regulating mRNA expression are currently scarce.
Methods:
In this study, expression profiles of circRNAs (GSE195442), miRNAs (GSE117064), and mRNAs (GSE58294) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed. Differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs), differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified by R software. The target miRNAs and target genes were predicted by several bioinformatics methods. Then, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of the DEmRNAs. Subsequently, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network were visualized by Cytoscape software. Finally, we further constructed an immune-related circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory sub-network in IS.
Results:
A total of 35 DEcircRNAs, 141 DEmiRNAs, and 356 DEmRNAs were identified. By comprehensive analysis of bioinformatics methods, we constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network, including 15 DEcircRNAs, eight DEmiRNAs, and 39 DEmRNAs. FGF9 was identified as an immune-related hub gene. Immune cell analysis indicated a significantly higher level of neutrophils in IS, and the expression of FGF9 was significantly negatively correlated with the level of neutrophils. Eventually, miR-767-5p was predicted as the upstream molecules of FGF9, and circ_0127785 and circ_0075008 were predicted as the upstream circRNAs of miR-767-5p.
Conclusion:
Our study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms governing the progression of IS from the perspective of immune-related ceRNA networks.
Related Concept Videos
01:22MicroRNAs
01:27Regulation of Stroke Volume
Preload refers to the degree of stretch on the heart before it contracts. It's analogous to the stretching of a rubber band; the more it's stretched, the more forcefully it snaps back. This concept is encapsulated in the Frank-Starling law of the...
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...