Circular RNA expression profile in human primary multiple intracranial aneurysms

Primary multiple intracranial aneurysms (MIA) is a vascular disease that often leads to fatal vascular rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, little is known about the epigenetic regulation of MIA. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) serve important roles in cardiovascular diseases; however, they have received little research attention regarding their association with MIA. The present study initially aimed to explore novel mechanisms of MIA through circRNA expression profiles. Comprehensive circRNA expression profiles were detected by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The RNA-Seq results were validated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses suggested the functions of these circRNAs. Among the 3,328 differentially expressed circRNAs between the MIA and matched groups, 60 exhibited marked expression changes (|log2 fold change|≥2; P<0.05). Among the 60 circRNAs that exhibited significant changes, 20 were upregulated, while the other 40 were downregulated. The circRNAs hsa_circ_0135895, hsa_circ_0000682 and hsa_circ_0000690 could regulate protein tyrosine kinase 2, protein kinase Cβ and integrin subunit αL, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to perform circRNA sequencing analysis of MIA. Furthermore, the results specifically predicted the regulatory role of circRNAs in MIA pathogenesis. Circular RNA expression profile of three pairs of matched patients with primary MIA and healthy individuals