# Construction of a ceRNA network and screening of potential biomarkers and molecular targets in male smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

## TL;DR

This study explores how circular RNAs and mRNAs are involved in COPD in male smokers, identifying potential biomarkers and drug targets.

## Contribution

The study constructs a ceRNA network and identifies novel biomarkers and molecular targets specific to male smokers with COPD.

## Key findings

- 114 differentially expressed circRNAs and 58 mRNAs were identified in COPD patients.
- Key pathways include IL-18, IL-5, NLRP3 inflammasome, and T helper cell differentiation.
- Potential drugs and a ceRNA regulatory network were predicted for COPD treatment.

## Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in the occurrence and development of diseases. However, the role of circRNAs in male smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear.

Stable COPD patients and healthy controls were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted. After high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of PBMCs, a bioinformatics method was used to analyse differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs).

Total of 114 DEcircRNAs and 58 DEmRNAs were identified. Functional enrichment analysis showed that processes related to COPD include the regulation of interleukin (IL)-18, IL-5 and the NLRP3 inflammasome; differentiation of T helper type 1 (Th1), Th2, and Th17 cells, and the AMPK, Wnt, JAK-STAT, and PI3K-Akt signalling pathways. In the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, the core genes were MYO16, MYL4, SCN4A, NRCAM, HMCN1, MYOM2, and IQSEC3. Small-molecule prediction results revealed potential drugs for the COPD treatment. Additionally, the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network was constructed.

This study identified a set of dysregulated circRNAs and mRNAs and revealed potentially important genes, pathways, new small-molecule drugs and ceRNA regulatory networks in male smokers with COPD. These circRNAs might be prospective biomarkers or potential molecular targets of the ceRNA mechanism for COPD.