Identification of lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks in circulating exosomes as potential biomarkers for systemic sclerosis

This study aimed to analyze potential biomarkers for systemic sclerosis (SSc) by constructing lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks in circulating exosomes (cirexos). Differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) in SSc cirexos were screened using high-throughput sequencing and detected with real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the DisGeNET, GeneCards, GSEA4.2.3, Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, correlation analyses, and a double-luciferase reporter gene detection assay were used to analyze competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) networks and clinical data.

本研究旨在通过构建循环外泌体（circulating exosomes，cirexos）中的长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）-微小RNA（miRNA）-信使RNA（mRNA）调控网络，分析系统性硬化症（systemic sclerosis，SSc）的潜在生物标志物。研究通过高通量测序筛选SSc循环外泌体中的差异表达信使RNA（DEmRNAs）与差异表达长链非编码RNA（DElncRNAs），并采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（real-time quantitative PCR，RT-qPCR）进行验证。利用DisGeNET、GeneCards、GSEA4.2.3、基因本体（Gene Ontology，GO）及京都基因与基因组百科全书（Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes，KEGG）数据库对差异表达基因（DEGs）进行分析。采用受试者工作特征（Receiver operating characteristic，ROC）曲线、相关性分析及双荧光素酶报告基因检测实验，对内源竞争RNA（competing endogenous RNAs，ceRNAs）调控网络与临床数据进行关联分析。