Circular RNA Profile in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Analysis of Coexpression Networks of Circular RNAs and mRNAs

Abstract

Aim: To study the expression pattern of circular RNAs in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Materials methods: Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of sciatic nerves and dorsal root ganglion (DRGs). circRNAs in DRGs were identified with high-throughput RNA sequencing. Whole-genome mRNAs were detected by a chip scan. Results: The ultrastructure of sciatic nerves and DRGs in diabetes mellitus mice changed significantly. A total of 11,004 circRNAs and 15 differentially expressed circRNAs, as well as 35,368 mRNAs and 133 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified in DRGs between wild-type and diabetes mellitus mice. 11 circRNAs and 14 mRNAs have a significant correlation using strict coexpression analysis. The expression of circRNA.4614 was validated to be upregulated significantly. Conclusion: Our study suggested that circRNAs might be involved in the regulation of mRNA expressions in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Keywords::

• circular RNA
• diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• dorsal root ganglion
• high-throughput RNA sequencing
• transmission electron microscopy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by grant from Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20181172 to H-H Zhang) and from the Jiangsu Youth Medical Talents Project (QNRC2016874 to H-H Zhang). This work was also supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (31400947 to H-H Zhang and 81471041 to J Hu). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

All experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Soochow University. The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grant from Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20181172 to H-H Zhang) and from the Jiangsu Youth Medical Talents Project (QNRC2016874 to H-H Zhang). This work was also supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (31400947 to H-H Zhang and 81471041 to J Hu). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.