Expression profile of circular RNA and construction of circular RNA-Micro RNA network in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

BackgroundCircular RNAs (circRNAs) is a newly discovered type of non-coding RNA, the abnormal expression of which has been demonstrated in many types of human tumors. So they have been considered as promising candidates as diagnostic and therapeutic targets in cancer. This research aimed to screen the profile of circRNA expression in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).MethodsUsing the threshold of FDR<0.05 and fold change>2 or<0.5, 5 up-regulated and 26 down-regulated circRNAs were identified. The reliability of sequencing was verified by the expression detection of randomly selected circRNAs via qRT-PCR.ResultsMoreover, the circRNA-miRNA system was established by bioinformatics approaches and successfully identified an interaction between circRNA ABCA13 and a cancer-related miRNA (miR-138-5p), which was also verified by qRT-PCR. Moreover, the predicted molecular interaction proved that circRNA ABCA13 may promote SACC through inhibition of miR-138-5p.ConclusionsCollectively, this study has offered the first report about the circRNA expression profile and circRNA-miRNA network in SACC. All of the above could benefit the exploration of novel therapeutic target in SACC treatment.

Automated summary

This study identified the profile of circRNA expression in SACC, with 5 up-regulated and 26 down-regulated circRNAs. The establishment of circRNA-miRNA system revealed an interaction between circRNA ABCA13 and cancer-related miRNA (miR-138-5p), suggesting circRNA ABCA13 may promote SACC through inhibition of miR-138-5p, providing a potential therapeutic target in SACC treatment.