Construction of a macula-specific lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in age- related macular degeneration patients

Abstract Background:Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the primary cause of visual impairment among the elderly. It mainly affects the macular region of the fundus oculi. Studies have shown that macular and extramacular region's gene expression differs considerably. This may be the reason for regional specificity and different phenotypic outcomes of the AMD. The non-coding RNA (ncRNAs) is a RNAs that cannot encode proteins in the human transcribed genome. However, they are involved in many life events as regulatory molecules. NcRNAs were identified to play a vital role in AMD. But the molecular mechanism underlying ncRNAs in AMD remains unclear. In the current study, we explored the differences in the macular and extramacular regions of the retina gene expression in AMD patients. We investigated the function of ncRNAs by constructing the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network.Results:A total of 4491 DE-mRNAs and 18 DE-lncRNAs were discovered in the macular and the retina region of the retina of AMD patients. In the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, 18 lncRNAs, 41 miRNAs, and 404 mRNAs were established through target gene prediction. Co-expression analysis showed that 51 pairs of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network had a positive co-expression. GO and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that mRNAs involved in the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network were mainly enriched in the apoptotic signaling pathway, negative regulation of nitrogen compound metabolic process, cellular response to chemical stimulus, and MAPK signaling pathway, endocytosis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cellular senescence, hepatitis, axon guidance, microRNAs in cancer, mTOR signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, and longevity regulating pathway. In addition, DO enrichment indicated that 18 DE-lncRNAs were enriched in 266 diseases.Conclusions:In this study, we constructed the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network consisting of 18 lncRNAs, 41 miRNAs, and 404 mRNAs. In addition, 51 pairs of lncRNAs and mRNAs presented a positive co-expression relationship.