Establishment of a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in a rat model of atrial fibrosis by whole transcriptome sequencing

Purpose Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) plays important roles in atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to identify crucial lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in AF based on whole transcriptome sequencing. Methods Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly stratified into control and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) groups ( n = 15 in each). Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, immunohistochemical assay, and western blotting were used to evaluate this model. Thereafter, atrial tissues were sent for whole transcriptome sequencing. Finally, fibrosis-related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks were built, and the relative levels of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or western blotting. Results A CIH-induced atrial fibrosis rat model was successfully constructed. After sequencing, 268 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), 20 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs), and 436 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Functional analyses showed that these DEGs were associated with several processes and pathways, including “cell division,” “IL-17 signaling pathway,” “NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,” and “cell adhesion molecules.” Fibrosis-related ceRNA networks were then built, comprising five lncRNAs, seven miRNAs, and 19 DEGs. RT-qPCR and western blotting results showed that the patterns of lncRNAs ( NONRATT016396.2 , NONRATT001596.2 , NONRATT011456.2 ), miRNAs ( miR-10b-3p , miR-29b-3p ), and mRNAs ( Gng7 and Wnt2b ) were consistent with sequencing analyses. Conclusions The DELs, DEMs, and DEGs identified in this study may participate in atrial fibrosis processes, and the occurrence and progression of AF.