Identification and validation of key regulating circRNAs in Immune Thrombocytopenia by circRNAs sequencing

Abstract

Dysfunction of T cells is a causative factor in Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), an autoimmune disorder. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which have been associated with the pathophysiology of various immunological conditions, are of particular interest. Our study aimed to identify pivotal regulatory circRNAs within the peripheral T cells of ITP patients. We utilized circRNA sequencing to discern differences in circRNA expression between the ITP cohort and healthy controls. We identified 606 upregulated and 719 downregulated circRNAs. Subsequent Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted to scrutinize the parent genes of these differentially expressed circRNAs, revealing their significant involvement in metabolic processes and T cell receptor signaling pathways. Following a rigorous selection process that included DEG analysis, KEGG, and GO pathways analysis, along with an assessment of the potential roles of their parent genes, five top differentially expressed circRNAs were subjected to further validation via quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Specifically, in the peripheral T cells of ITP patients, hsa_circ_0008866 (TAOK1), hsa_circ_0006856 (MAP3K5), and hsa_circ_0007444 (RHOBTB3) emerged as key regulatory circRNAs. The potential miRNA targets of these circRNAs were predicted employing miRanda, RNAhybrid, and TargetScan algorithms.