Altered Circular Rna Expression Profiles In An Ovalbumin-Induced Murine Model Of Allergic Rhinitis

Background: Emerging evidence shows that circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in the pathogenesis of multiple immune diseases. However, few studies have focused on the mechanisms of circRNAs involved in allergic rhinitis (AR).Methods: This study performed an RNA sequence (RNA-seq) profiling to identify the expression of circRNAs in nasal mucosa from ovalbumin-induced AR murine models and normal controls. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was then conducted to validate the differential expression of circRNAs. Bioinformatics analysis was applied to demonstrate the biological functions of the dysregulated circRNAs.Results: A total of 86 distinct circRNA candidates were sequenced, of which 51 were upregulated and 35 were downregulated. The T cell receptor, B cell receptor, and calcium signaling pathways may be involved in the pathology of AR. Furthermore, a circRNA-miRNA interaction network was constructed via miRNA response elements analysis. Some circRNAs were correlated with miRNAs that are involved in T cell polarization and activation, thereby highlighting their potential role in the pathogenesis of AR.Conclusions: This study demonstrates a number of aberrantly expressed circRNAs related to AR, and offers a novel perspective into AR pathogenesis and future therapeutic strategies. (C) 2021 Codon Publications. Published by Codon Publications.