AUTHOR=Feng Zongfeng , Li Leyan , Tu Yi , Shu Xufeng , Zhang Yang , Zeng Qingwen , Luo Lianghua , Wu Ahao , Chen Wenzheng , Cao Yi , Li Zhengrong 

TITLE=Identification of Circular RNA-Based Immunomodulatory Networks in Colorectal Cancer

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.779706

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.779706

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been recently studied as a hub molecule in various diseases, especially in tumors. However, studies in colorectal cancer (CRC) are just the tip of the iceberg.
Objective: We sought to identify new circRNAs derived from ribonuclease P NRA component H1 (RPPH1) and investigate their regulation of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and RNA binding protein (RBP) network of CRC immune infiltration.
Methods: The circRNA expression profiles were extracted from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and miRNA and mRNA from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. The differentially expressed (DE) RNAs were identified using R software and online server tools, and the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-protein networks were constructed using Cytoscape. The relationship between targeted genes and immune infiltration was identified by GEPIA2 and TIMER2 online server tools.
Results: A ceRNA network, including eight circRNAs, five miRNAs and six mRNAs, was revealed. Moreover, a circRNA-protein network, including eight circRNAs, 49 proteins was established. Targeted genes, ENOX1, NCAM1, SAMD4A and ZC3H10, are closely related to CRC tumor-infiltrating macrophages.
Conclusions: We analysed the characteristics of circRNA from RPPH1 as competing for endogenous RNA binding miRNA or protein in CRC macrophage infiltration. The results point towards the development of a new diagnostic and therapeutic paradigm for CRC.