Construction of ceRNA networks in joint tissues of gouty arthritis rats based on transcriptome sequencing

The aim of this study is to construct a competitive endogenous RNA regulatory network of gouty arthritis through transcriptomics and investigate its underlying pathogenesis. Transcriptomics was performed with the rats’ joints in both the control and model groups. The mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA were analyzed using the R language. The RNA data were visualized as the ceRNA network. Genes were combined, the KEGG pathway was enriched, and the first five pathways were selected. Meanwhile, relationships between genes in the extraction pathway were integrated into a network, and key genes were mapped. mRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA were scored to compare the conservatism of RNA. Finally, lncRNA, circRNA, miRNA, and genes were considered the core, and information about other differential RNAs having a targeted relationship with them (i.e., host genes) was added. Based on ceRNA analysis, the relationship pairs between lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA and circRNA–miRNA–mRNA were extracted. A total of 1165 de-mRNAs, 91 de-miRNAs, 456 de-lncRNAs, and 70 de-circRNAs were selected. The key genes were identified for pathway enrichment, such as the phospholipase D signaling pathway and endocytosis. Based on the ceRNA analysis, the networks of lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA and circRNA–miRNA–mRNA were constructed. The differentially expressed RNAs between the control and model groups were identified using the transcriptomics of ankle tissue. The findings indicate that mRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA can competitively bind to GA-related miRNAs, leading to mutual regulatory effects. The RNAs identified from the constructed lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA and circRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks are potential targets for therapeutic drugs and may be involved in the pathogenesis of GA.