AUTHOR=Yan Yue-Mei , Zheng Ji-Na , Wu Li-Wei , Rao Qian-Wen , Yang Qiao-Rong , Gao Di , Wang Qiang 

TITLE=Prediction of a Competing Endogenous RNA Co-expression Network by Comprehensive Methods in Systemic Sclerosis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.633059

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2021.633059

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune-mediated connective tissue disease characterized by fibrosis of multi-organs, and SSc related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. To explore molecular biological mechanisms of SSc-ILD, we constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network for prediction. RNA-seq data were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and differential expressed mRNAs and miRNAs analysis was further conducted between normal lung tissue and SSc lung tissue. Also, the interactions of miRNA-lncRNA, miRNA-mRNA, and lncRNA-mRNA were predicted by online databases including starBase, LncBase, miRTarBase and LncACTdb. The ceRNA network containing 11 lncRNAs, 7 miRNAs and 20 mRNAs were constructed. Based on hub genes and miRNAs identified by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) method, three core sub-networks: SNHG16, LIN01128, RP11-834C11.4(LINC02381)/hsa-let-7f-5p/IL6, LINC01128/has-miR-21-5p/PTX3, and LINC00665/hsa-miR-155-5p/PLS1 were obtained. Combined with previous studies and enrichment analyses, the lncRNA-mediated network affected LPS-induced inflammatory and immune processes, fibrosis development and tumor microenvironment variations. The ceRNA network, especially three core sub networks, may be served as early biomarkers and potential targets for SSc, which also provides further insights into the occurrence, progression and accurate treatment of SSc at the molecular level.