Identification and Comparison of Novel Circular RNAs With Associated Co-expression and Competing Endogenous Rna Networks in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Abstract Background: circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as crucial regulators in many human diseases. So far, the expression profile and regulatory mechanism of circRNAs in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) are less studied, and needed to be deciphered urgently. Herein, we aimed to reveal key circRNAs affecting PMOP, and clarify their compounding regulatory actions.Methods: To reveal key circRNAs affecting PMOP, and clarify their compounding regulatory actions. Whole transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed to identify the differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs). The expression pattern and regulatory networks of DECs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were unearthed.Results: 373 DECs comprising 123 intronic, 100 antisense, 70 exonic, 55 intergenic and 25 sense-overlapping circRNAs were identified. Among these, 73 circRNAs were upregulated and 300 circRNAs were downregulated. These DECs exerted pivotal functions in the pathogenesis of PMOP as demonstrated by Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA co-expression network comprising 28 DECs, 145 miRNAs and 175 differentially expressed mRNAs predicted the possible mechanism of the pathogenesis and progression of PMOP.Conclusion: The results of present study provided a further comprehension of circRNA‑associated competing endogenous RNA regulatory mechanism in PMOP. These steadily expressed and disease-specific DECs may serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for PMOP.