Systematic characterization of human placenta-derived circRNAs and identification of autophagy-related circRNAs in gestational diabetes mellitus [lncRNA]

The objective of this study was to identify and investigate the roles of circRNAs in GDM. In the current study, placental circRNA expression profiles of normal controls and GDM patients were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis identified a total of 4955 circRNAs, of which 37 circRNAs were significantly deregulated in GDM placentas compared with NC placentas. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses demonstrated that metabolic process-associated terms and metabolic pathways that may be related to GDM were significantly enriched. The biological characteristics of placenta-derived circRNAs, such as their stability and RNase R resistance, were also validated.Our study indicates that aberrant expression of circRNAs may play roles in autophagy in GDM placentas, providing new insights into GDM. Overall design: RNA-seq of placenta from 3 pregnant women with GDM and 3 healthy pregnant women, and identification of autophagy-related circRNAs in gestational diabetes mellitus