Bioinformatics analysis on lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles for novel biological features of valvular heart disease with atrial fibrillation

The biological features of the valvular heart disease with atrial fibrillation (AF-VHD) remain unknown when involving long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). This study performed system analysis on lncRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles constructed by using bioinformatics methods and tools for biological features of AF-VHD. Fold change and t-test were used to identify differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and mRNAs. The enrichment analysis of DE mRNAs was performed. The subgroups formed by lncRNAs and nearby mRNAs were screened, and a transcriptional regulation network among lncRNAs, mRNAs, and transcription factors (TFs) was constructed. The interactions between mRNAs related to lncRNAs and drugs were predicted. The 620 AF-VHD-related DE lncRNAs and 452 DE mRNAs were identified. The 3 lncRNA subgroups were screened. The 665 regulations mediated by lncRNAs and TFs were identified. The 9 mRNAs related to lncRNAs had 1 or more potential drug interactions, totaling 37 drugs. Of these, 9 drugs targeting 3 genes are already known to be able to control or trigger atrial fibrillation (AF) or other cardiac arrhythmias. The found biological features of AF-VHD provide foundations for further biological experiments to better understand the roles of lncRNAs in development from the valvular heart disease (VHD) to AF-VHD.