Expression profile and potential function of circRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with primary gout

To determine the expression profile and clinical significance of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with primary gout and healthy control subjects. Human circRNA microarrays were used to identify the differentially expressed circRNAs in primary gout (Gout, n = 5) and healthy subjects (HC, n = 3). Bioinformatics analyses were performed to predict the roles of differently expressed circRNAs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to validate the results in 90 gout patients, and 60 healthy control subjects (HC). Microarray analysis indicated that 238 circRNAs were up-regulated and 41 circRNAs were down-regulated in the Gout group (Fold change>1.5, p-value<0.05). Bioinformatics analysis showed that differentially expressed circRNAs were involved in the pathogenesis of gout through a variety of different pathways. Significant association was observed between these circRNAs and lipid metabolism indicators. Our results provide novel insight into the mechanisms of primary gout, and reveal that hsa_circRNA_103657 could effectively discriminate the gout group and the healthy control groups. Two-condition experiment：primary gout patients vs. healthy control subjects peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Biological replicates: 5 gout patients replicates，3 controls replicates.