Comprehensive analysis of circRNA expression profiles in postmenopausal women differing in bone mineral density

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) seriously endangers the bone health of older women. Although there are currently indicators to diagnose PMOP, early diagnostic biomarkers are lacking. Circular ribonucleic acid (circRNA) has a stable structure, regulates gene expression, participates in the pathological process of disease, and has the potential to become a biomarker. The purpose of this study was to investigate circRNAs that could be used to predict patients with early PMOP. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing was performed on peripheral blood leukocytes from 15 female patients to identify differential circRNAs between different groups. Using bioinformatics analysis, enrichment analysis was performed to discover relevant functions and pathways. CircRNA-micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) interaction analysis and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) prediction and network construction help us to understand the relationship between circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the gene expression of candidate circRNAs. We screened out 2 co-expressed differential circRNAs, namely hsa_circ_0060849 and hsa_circ_0001394. By analyzing the regulatory network, a total of 54 miRNAs and 57 osteoporosis-related mRNAs were identified, which, as potential downstream target genes of hsa_circ_0060849 and hsa_circ_0001394, may play a key role in the occurrence and development of PMOP. The occurrence and development of PMOP is regulated by circRNAs, and hsa_circ_0060849 and hsa_circ_0001394 can be used as new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for early PMOP.