Relationships of Non-coding RNA with diabetes and depression

Intranasal Delivery of circATF7IP siRNA via Lipid Nanoparticles Alleviates LPS-induced Depressive-Like Behaviors

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent mental disorder that significantly impacts social and psychological function, but no effective medication is currently available. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to participate in the pathogenesis of MDD which are envisioned as promising therapeutic targets. However, nonviral-based delivery strategies targeting circRNA against MDD are not thoroughly investigated. Here, it is identified that circATF7IP is significantly upregulated in plasma samples and positively correlated with 24-Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24) scores of MDD patients. Synergistic amine lipid nanoparticles (SALNPs) are designed to deliver siRNA targeting circATF7IP (si-circATF7IP) into the hippocampus brain region by intranasal administration. Intranasal delivery of SALNP-si-circATF7IP successfully alleviated the depressive-like behaviors in the LPS-induced mouse depression model via decreasing CD11b+CD45dim microglia population and pro-inflammatory cytokine productions (TNF-α and IL-6). These results indicate that the level of circATF7IP positively correlates with MDD pathogenesis, and SALNP delivery of si-circATF7IP via intranasal administration is an effective strategy to ameliorate LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors.

Integrative Analysis Revealed LINC00847 as a Potential Target of Tumor Immunotherapy

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common form of lung cancer and has a low 5-year survival rate. Therefore, much more research is needed to identify cancer biomarkers, promote biomarker-driven therapy and improve treatment outcomes. LncRNAs have been reported to participate in various physiological and pathological processes, especially in cancer, and thus have attracted much attention. In this study, lncRNAs were screened from the single-cell RNA-seq dataset CancerSEA. Among them, four lncRNAs (HCG18, NNT-AS1 and LINC00847 and CYTOR) were closely associated with the prognosis of LUAD patients according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. Further study explored the correlations between these four lncRNAs and immune cell infiltration in cancer. In LUAD, LINC00847 was positively correlated with the immune infiltration of B cells, CD8 T cells, and dendritic cells. LINC00847 decreased the expression of PD-L1, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) immunotherapy-related gene, which suggests that LINC00847 is a potential new target for tumor immunotherapy.

The recent advancements in circRNA research: From biogenesis to therapeutic interventions

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) belong to the genre of long non-coding RNAs that are formed by special back-splicing events and are currently the molecule of interest for studies globally due their involvement in various ailments like diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cardio-vascular diseases and cancers. These class of highly stable RNAs participate in diverse cellular functionalities including microRNA (miRNA) sponging, ceRNA (competing endogenous RNA) activity or via exhibiting RNA binding protein (RBP) interactions. They are also known to regulate cancer progression both positively and negatively through various biological pathways such as, modulating the cell cycle and apoptotic pathways, epigenetic regulation, and translational and/or transcriptional regulations etc. Given its significance, a variety of computational tools and dedicated databases have been created for the identification, quantification, and differential expression of such RNAs in combination with sequencing approaches. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the numerous computational tools, pipelines, and online resources developed in recent years for the detection and annotation of circRNAs. We also summarise the most recent findings regarding the characteristics, functions, biological processes, and involvement of circRNAs in diseases. The review emphasises the significance of circRNAs as potential disease biomarkers and new treatment targets.

The emerging role of long noncoding RNA in depression and its implications in diagnostics and therapeutic responses

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting more than 350 million people worldwide. However, the occurrence of depression is a complex process involving genetic, physiological, psychological, and social factors, and the underlying mechanisms of its pathogenesis remain unclear. With advances in sequencing technology and epigenetic studies, increasing research evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play nonnegligible roles in the development of depression and may be involved in the pathogenesis of depression through multiple pathways, including regulating neurotrophic factors and other growth factors and affecting synaptic function. In addition, significant alterations in lncRNA expression profiles in peripheral blood and different brain regions of patients and model animals with depression suggest that lncRNAs may function as biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of depression and other psychiatric disorders and may also be potential therapeutic targets. In this paper, the biological functions of lncRNAs are briefly described, and the functional roles and abnormal expression of lncRNAs in the development, diagnosis and treatment of depression are reviewed.

A Unique Circular RNA Expression Pattern in the Peripheral Blood of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease with obscure aetiology. The underdiagnosis rate of ME/CFS is high due to the lack of diagnostic criteria based on objective markers. In recent years, circRNAs have emerged as potential genetic biomarkers for neurological diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, making them likely to have the same prospect of being biomarkers in ME/CFS. However, despite the extensive amount of research that has been performed on the transcriptomes of ME/CFS patients, all of them are solely focused on linear RNAs, and the profiling of circRNAs in ME/CFS has been completely omitted. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of circRNAs, comparing ME/CFS patients and controls before and after two sessions of cardiopulmonary exercise longitudinally. In patients with ME/CFS, the number of detected circRNAs was higher compared to healthy controls, indicating potential differences in circRNA expression associated with the disease. Additionally, healthy controls showed an increase in the number of circRNAs following exercise testing, while no similar pattern was evident in ME/CFS patients, further highlighting physiological differences between the two groups. A lack of correlation was observed between differentially expressed circRNAs and their corresponding coding genes in terms of expression and function, suggesting the potential of circRNAs as independent biomarkers in ME/CFS. Specifically, 14 circRNAs were highly expressed in ME/CFS patients but absent in controls throughout the exercise study, indicating a unique molecular signature specific to ME/CFS patients and providing potential diagnostic biomarkers for the disease. Significant enrichment of protein and gene regulative pathways were detected in relation to five of these 14 circRNAs based on their predicted miRNA target genes. Overall, this is the first study to describe the circRNA expression profile in peripheral blood of ME/CFS patients, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease.

Comorbidity and healthcare utilization in patients with treatment resistant depression: A large-scale retrospective cohort analysis using electronic health records

BACKGROUND

Medical comorbidity and healthcare utilization in patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD) is usually reported in convenience samples, making estimates unreliable. There is only limited large-scale clinical research on comorbidities and healthcare utilization in TRD patients.

METHODS

Electronic Health Record data from over 3.3 million patients from the INSIGHT Clinical Research Network in New York City was used to define TRD as initiation of a third antidepressant regimen in a 12-month period among patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). Age and sex matched TRD and non-TRD MDD patients were compared for anxiety disorder, 27 comorbid medical conditions, and healthcare utilization.

RESULTS

Out of 30,218 individuals diagnosed with MDD, 15.2 % of patients met the criteria for TRD (n = 4605). Compared to MDD patients without TRD, the TRD patients had higher rates of anxiety disorder and physical comorbidities. They also had higher odds of ischemic heart disease (OR = 1.38), stroke/transient ischemic attack (OR = 1.57), chronic kidney diseases (OR = 1.53), arthritis (OR = 1.52), hip/pelvic fractures (OR = 2.14), and cancers (OR = 1.41). As compared to non-TRD MDD, TRD patients had higher rates of emergency room visits, and inpatient stays. In relation to patients without MDD, both TRD and non-TRD MDD patients had significantly higher levels of anxiety disorder and physical comorbidities.

LIMITATIONS

The INSIGHT-CRN data lack information on depression severity and medication adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

TRD patients compared to non-TRD MDD patients have a substantially higher prevalence of various psychiatric and medical comorbidities and higher health care utilization. These findings highlight the challenges of developing interventions and care coordination strategies to meet the complex clinical needs of TRD patients.

Systematic identification of aberrant non-coding RNAs and their mediated modules in rotator cuff tears

Background: Rotator cuff tears (RCT) is the most common cause of shoulder dysfunction, however, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs), such as long ncRNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA), are involved in a variety of diseases, but little is known about their roles in RCT. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify dysregulated ncRNAs and understand how they influence RCT.

Methods: We performed RNA sequencing and miRNA sequencing on five pairs of torn supraspinatus muscles and matched unharmed subscapularis muscles to identify RNAs dysregulated in RCT patients. To better comprehend the fundamental biological processes, we carried out enrichment analysis of these dysregulated mRNAs or the co-expressed genes of dysregulated ncRNAs. According to the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) theory, we finally established ceRNA networks to explore the relationship among dysregulated RNAs in RCT.

Results: A total of 151 mRNAs, 38 miRNAs, 20 lncRNAs and 90 circRNAs were differentially expressed between torn supraspinatus muscles and matched unharmed subscapularis muscles, respectively. We found that these dysregulated mRNAs, the target mRNAs of these dysregulated miRNAs or the co-expressed mRNAs of these dysregulated ncRNAs were enriched in muscle structure development, actin-mediated cell contraction and actin binding. Then we constructed and analyzed the ceRNA network and found that the largest module in the ceRNA network was associated with vasculature development. Based on the topological properties of the largest module, we identified several important ncRNAs including hsa_circ_0000722, hsa-miR-129-5p and hsa-miR-30c-5p, whose interacting mRNAs related to muscle diseases, fat and inflammation.

Conclusion: This study presented a systematic dissection of the expression profile of mRNAs and ncRNAs in RCT patients and revealed some important ncRNAs which may contribute to the development of RCT. Such results could provide new insights for further research on RCT.

A novel circular RNA, circIgfbp2, links neural plasticity and anxiety through targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress-induced synapse dysfunction after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to different neurological and psychiatric disorders. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly expressed in the nervous system and enriched in synapses; yet, the underlying role and mechanisms of circRNAs in neurological impairment and dysfunction are still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the expression of circRNAs and their relation with neurological dysfunction after TBI. RNA-Seq was used to detect differentially expressed circRNAs in injured brain tissue, revealing that circIgfbp2 was significantly increased. Up-regulated hsa_circ_0058195, which was highly homologous to circIgfbp2, was further confirmed in the cerebral cortex specimens and serum samples of patients after TBI. Moreover, correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between hsa_circ_0058195 levels and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores in these subjects. Furthermore, knockdown of circIgfbp2 in mice relieved anxiety-like behaviors and sleep disturbances induced by TBI. Knockdown of circIgfbp2 in H₂O₂ treated HT22 cells alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction, while its overexpression reversed the process. Mechanistically, we discovered that circIgfbp2 targets miR-370-3p to regulate BACH1, and down-regulating BACH1 alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress-induced synapse dysfunction. In conclusion, inhibition of circIgfbp2 alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress-induced synapse dysfunction after TBI through the miR-370-3p/BACH1/HO-1 axis. Thus, circIgfbp2 might be a novel therapeutic target for anxiety and sleep disorders after TBI.

Overexpression of hsa_circ_0022742 suppressed hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction by targeting the miR-503-5p/FBXW7 axis

Type I and II diabetes adversely affect the microvasculature of several organs, although the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Previous studies have found that differentially expressed circRNAs associated with hyperglycemia (HG) induce endothelial dysfunction. In the present study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to assess abnormal circRNA expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after HG treatment. Then, bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporting analysis, angiogenic differentiation analysis, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR analysis were performed to investigate the underlying regulatory mechanism and targets. The results demonstrate that hsa_circ_0022742 expression in HUVECs was decreased by HG treatment and overexpression of hsa_circ_0022742 suppressed HG-induced endothelial dysfunction. Luciferase analysis showed that miR-503-5p and FBXW7 were downstream targets of hsa_circ_0022742. Both overexpression of FBXW7 and inhibition of miR-503-5p reversed the protective effect of hsa_circ_0022742 against HG-induced endothelial dysfunction, including apoptosis, abnormal vascular differentiation, and secretion of inflammatory factors, indicating that hsa_circ_0022742 enhanced FBXW7 expression by sponging miR-503-5p. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that overexpression of hsa_circ_0022742 suppressed HG-induced endothelial dysfunction by targeting the miR-503-5p/FBXW7 axis.

Neuroepigenetics of psychiatric disorders: Focus on lncRNA

Understanding the pathology of psychiatric disorders is challenging due to their complexity and multifactorial origin. However, development of high-throughput technologies has allowed for better insight into their molecular signatures. Advancement of sequencing methodologies have made it possible to study not only the protein-coding but also the noncoding genome. It is now clear that besides the genetic component, different epigenetic mechanisms play major roles in the onset and development of psychiatric disorders. Among them, examining the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is a relatively new field. Here, we present an overview of what is currently known about the involvement of lncRNAs in schizophrenia, major depressive and bipolar disorders, as well as suicide. The diagnosis of psychiatric disorders mainly relies on clinical evaluation without using measurable biomarkers. In this regard, lncRNA may open new opportunities for development of molecular tests. However, so far only a small set of known lncRNAs have been characterized at molecular level, which means they have a long way to go before clinical implementation. Understanding how changes in lncRNAs affect the appearance and development of psychiatric disorders may lead to a more classified and objective diagnostic system, but also open up new therapeutic targets for these patients.

Molecular prospect of type-2 diabetes: Nanotechnology based diagnostics and therapeutic intervention

About ninety percent of all diabetic conditions account for T2D caused due to abnormal insulin secretion/ action or increased hepatic glucose production. Factors that contribute towards the aetiology of T2D could be well explained through biochemical, molecular, and cellular aspects. In this review, we attempt to explain the recent evolving molecular and cellular advancement associated with T2D pathophysiology. Current progress fabricated in T2D research concerning intracellular signaling cascade, inflammasome, autophagy, genetic and epigenetics changes is discretely explained in simple terms. Present available anti-diabetic therapeutic strategies commercialized and their limitations which are needed to be acknowledged are addressed in the current review. In particular, the pre-eminence of nanotechnology-based approaches to nullify the inadequacy of conventional anti-diabetic therapeutics and heterogeneous nanoparticulated systems exploited in diabetic researches are also discretely mentioned and are also listed in a tabular format in the review. Additionally, as a future prospect of nanotechnology, the review presents several strategic hypotheses to ameliorate the austerity of T2D by an engineered smart targeted nano-delivery system. In detail, an effort has been made to hypothesize novel nanotechnological based therapeutic strategies, which exploits previously described inflammasome, autophagic target points. Utilizing graphical description it is explained how a smart targeted nano-delivery system could promote β-cell growth and development by inducing the Wnt signaling pathway (inhibiting Gsk3β), inhibiting inflammasome (inhibiting NLRP3), and activating autophagic target points (protecting Atg3/Atg7 complex from oxidative stress) thereby might ameliorate the severity of T2D. Additionally, several targeting molecules associated with autophagic and epigenetic factors are also highlighted, which can be exploited in future diabetic research.

The progress, prospects, and challenges of the use of non-coding RNA for diabetic wounds

Chronic diabetic wounds affect the quality of life of patients, resulting in significant social and economic burdens on both individuals and the health care system. Although treatment methods for chronic diabetic wounds have been explored, there remains a lack of effective treatment strategies; therefore, alternative strategies must be explored. Recently, the abnormal expression of non-coding RNA in diabetic wounds has received widespread attention since it is an important factor in the development of diabetic wounds. This article reviews the regulatory role of three common non-coding RNAs (microRNA [miRNA], long non-coding RNA [lncRNA], and circular RNA [circRNA]) in diabetic wounds and discusses the diagnosis, treatment potential, and challenges of non-coding RNA in diabetic wounds. This article provides insights into new strategies for diabetic wound diagnosis and treatment at the genetic and molecular levels.

Hsa_circ_0038383-mediated competitive endogenous RNA network in recurrent implantation failure

BACKGROUND

Inadequate endometrial receptivity contributes to recurrent implantation failure (RIF) during IVF-embryo transfer. Though multiple circRNAs have been confirmed differentially expression in RIF, the potential function of novel circRNAs needed to be detected.

RESULTS

The top ten DEcircRNAs were selected as initial candidates. A ceRNA network was conducted on the basis of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA potential interaction, consisting of 10 DEcircRNAs, 28 DEmiRNAs and 59 DEmRNAs. Three down-regulation circRNAs with high degree of connectivity were verified by RT-qPCR, and results suggested that only hsa_circ_0038383 was significantly downregulation in RIF compared with control group. Subsequently, three hub genes (HOXA3, HOXA9 and PBX1) were identified as hub genes. Ultimately, a subnetwork was determined based on one DEcircRNA (hsa_circ_0038383), two DEmiRNAs (has-miR-196b-5p and has-miR-424-5p), and three DEmRNAs (HOXA3, HOXA9 and PBX1). Following verification, hsa_circ_0038383/miR-196b-5p/HOXA9 axis may be a key pathway in affecting RIF.

CONCLUSION

In summary, a hsa_circ_0038383-mediated ceRNA network related to RIF was proposed. This network provided new insight into exploring potential biomarkers for diagnosis and clinical treatment of RIF.

METHODS

We retrieved the expression profiles of RIF from GEO databases (circRNA, microRNA and mRNA) and constructed a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network based on predicted circRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA pairs. The expression levels of three hub DEcircRNAs identified by cytoscape were validated by RT-qPCR.

Analysis of differential expression of long non‑coding RNAs in exosomes derived from mature and immature dendritic cells

Dendritic cells release bioactive exosomes involved in immune regulation. Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in a number of immunoregulatory mechanisms. However, the roles of lncRNAs in dendritic cell‑derived exosomes remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of lncRNAs in exosomes derived from mature and immature dendritic cells and to find specific lncRNAs with immunoregulatory function. The expression profiles of lncRNAs in exosomes derived from bone marrow dendritic cells of C57 mice were illustrated. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis were performed to identify potential targets correlated with immune regulation. In addition, lncRNA‑miRNA‑mRNA networks were predicted using bioinformatics methods. Representative lncRNAs were further validated via reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. A total of 437 lncRNAs were analyzed using RNA‑seq. Among these, the expression of ~87 lncRNAs was upregulated and 21 lncRNAs was downregulated in mature dendritic cell‑derived exosomes (Dex) compared with immature Dex. GO analyses indicated the involvement of upregulated lncRNAs in multiple biological functions, such as the immune system process, while downregulated lncRNAs were involved in poly(A) RNA binding. Analysis of the KEGG pathway identified the relationship of TNF signaling and ribosome pathway with upregulated lncRNAs and downregulated lncRNAs, respectively. The results of gene set enrichment analysis identified that three lncRNA‑associated transcripts (Procr‑203, Clec4e‑202 and Traf1‑203) were highly associated with immunoregulatory functions including T helper cell differentiation and Janus kinase‑STAT signaling pathway. The results indicated the involvement of candidate lncRNAs in immunoregulation and suggested a new perspective on the modulation of lncRNAs in Dex.

GINS2 was regulated by lncRNA XIST/miR-23a-3p to mediate proliferation and apoptosis in A375 cells

Melanoma ranks second in aggressive tumors, and the occurrence of metastasis in melanoma results in a persistent drop in the survival rate of patients. Therefore, it is very necessary to find a novel therapeutic method for treating melanoma. It has been reported that lncRNA XIST could promote the tumorigenesis of melanoma. However, the mechanism by which lncRNA XIST regulates the progression of melanoma remains unclear. The proliferation of A375 cells was measured by clonal formation. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was performed to detect cell apoptosis and cycle. The level of GINS2, miR-23a-3p, and lncRNA XIST was investigated by qRT-PCR. Protein level was detected by Western blot, and the correctness of prediction results was confirmed by Dual luciferase. In present study, GINS2 and lncRNA XIST were overexpressed in melanoma, while miR-23a-3p was downregulated. Silencing of GINS2 or overexpression of miR-23a-3p reversed cell growth and promoted apoptosis in A375 cells. Mechanically, miR-23a-3p directly targeted GINS2, and XIST regulated GINS2 level though mediated miR-23a-3p. Moreover, XIST exerted its function on cell proliferation, cell viability, and promoted the cell apoptosis of A375 cells though miR-23a-3p/GINS2 axis. LncRNA XIST significantly promoted the tumorigenesis of melanoma via sponging miR-23a-3p and indirectly targeting GINS2, which can be a potential new target for treating melanoma.

Long non-coding RNA uc.80- overexpression promotes M2 polarization of microglias to ameliorate depression in rats

Microglia polarization is associated with the pathogenesis of depression. A previous study shows that long non-coding RNA uc.80- is down-regulated in the hippocampus of depressed rats. Thus, this article aims to investigate the role of uc.80- in microglia polarization in depression. We first established depression model rats by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) regiment. We found that hippocampus of depressed rats exhibited an increase of M1 microglias and a decrease of M2 microglias. uc.80- was down-regulated in hippocampus of depressed rats. Furthermore, the detection of behaviouristics of depressed rats showed that uc.80- overexpression alleviated depression of rats. In addition, uc.80- overexpression promoted M2 polarization of microglias in vivo and in vitro. uc.80- overexpression led to a decrease in apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, our study confirms that lncRNA uc.80- overexpression ameliorates depression in rats by promoting M2 polarization of microglias. Thus, our work suggests that uc.80- may be a target gene for depression treatment.

Integrated analyses reveal hsa_circ_0028883 as a diagnostic biomarker in active tuberculosis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are known to be closely involved in various diseases progression. Nevertheless, their function and underlying mechanisms in tuberculosis (TB) remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore their potential diagnostic values in TB. We downloaded the gene expression datasets of circRNA (GSE117563 and GSE106953), microRNA (miRNA, dataset GSE29190) and mRNA (GSE54992) from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network was constructed based on circRNA-miRNA-mRNA potential interaction. We also constructed a circRNA-miRNA-hub gene regulatory module by using the Cytohubba. Gene ontology (GO) as well as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were used to predict their biological functions. By further validation, the expression level of hsa_circ_0028883 and hsa-miR-409-5p were detected by qRT-PCR in 20 active TB patients and 20 healthy donors. Then, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) was constructed to evaluate the diagnostic values of hsa_circ_0028883. 1 differentially expressed circRNA (DE-circRNA), 1 differentially expressed miRNA (DE-miRNA), and 44 differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs) were selected for the construction of ceRNA network in TB. A circRNA-miRNA-hub gene (mRNA) sub-network was constructed based on 1 DE-circRNA, 1 DE-miRNA, and 8 DE-mRNAs. Hsa_circ_0028883/hsa-miR-409-5p/mRNA interactions may provide some novel mechanisms for active TB. GO and KEGG pathway analysis indicated the possible function of hsa_circ_0028883 with TB. ROC analysis revealed that hsa_circ_0028883 had potential value for TB diagnosis. Hsa_circ_0028883 is a potentially reliable biomarker to diagnose active TB, but there remains a need to further study the mechanism in TB.

Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis of Peripheral Blood of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With Thirst and Fatigue

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the differences in transcriptome expression profiles between healthy subjects and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with thirst and fatigue (D-T2DM) and, in addition, to investigate the possible role of noncoding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) in the pathogenesis of D-T2DM. Methods: We constructed the expression profiles of RNAs by RNA sequencing in the peripheral blood of D-T2DM patients and healthy subjects and analyzed differentially expressed RNAs. Results: Compared with healthy subjects, a total of 469 mRNAs, 776 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 21 circular RNAs (circRNAs) were differentially expressed in D-T2DM patients. Furthermore, several genes associated with insulin resistance, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction were identified within the differentially expressed mRNAs. Differentially expressed lncRNAs were primarily involved in biological processes associated with immune responses. In addition, differentially expressed circRNAs may target miRNAs associated with glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function. Conclusions: Our results may bring a new perspective on differential RNA expression involved in the pathogenesis of D-T2DM and promote the development of novel treatments for this disease.

Circular RNA in Schizophrenia and Depression

Schizophrenia (SZ) and depression (DEP) are two common major psychiatric disorders that are associated with high risk of suicide. These disorders affect not only physical and mental health, but they also affect the social function of the individual. However, diagnoses of SZ and DEP are mainly based on symptomatic changes and the clinical experience of psychiatrists. These rather subjective measures can induce misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore objective indexes for improving the early diagnoses and prognoses of SZ and DEP. Current research indicates that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) may play a role in the occurrence and development of SZ and DEP. Circular RNA (circRNA), as an important component of ncRNA, is associated with many biological functions, especially post-transcriptional regulation. Since circRNA is easily detected in peripheral blood and has a high degree of spatiotemporal tissue specificity and stability, these attributes provide us with a new idea to further explore the potential value for the diagnosis and treatment of SZ and DEP. Here, we summarize the classification, characteristics, and biological functions of circRNA and the most significant results of experimental studies, aiming to highlight the involvement of circRNA in SZ and DEP.