Identification of circular RNAs hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood as novel biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of RNAs that can be used as biomarkers in clinical blood samples. However, little is known about circRNAs' diagnostic values for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, the hsa_circ_0054189, hsa_circ_0008675, hsa_circ_0082689, hsa_circ_0082688, hsa_circ_0010932, hsa_circ_0002473 and hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). For hsa_circ_0044235, only one abnormal expression circRNAs in peripheral blood was selected as a targeted circRNA to explore the diagnostic value for RA. Our work demonstrated that the hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood was decreased significantly in RA patients. The hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood from RA patients did not correlate with C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) or disease activity score 28 (DAS28). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested that the hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood has significant value in the diagnosis of RA. The risk score based on hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood also distinguished significantly the patients with RA from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study suggests that the hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood may be a potential biomarker of patients with RA.

Luo Q ，Zhang L ，Li X ，Fu B ，Deng Z ，Qing C ，Su R ，Xu J ，Guo Y ，Huang Z ，Li J ... -  《-》

Circular RNAs Hsa_circ_0002715 and Hsa_circ_0035197 in Peripheral Blood Are Novel Potential Biomarkers for New-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This study is aimed at exploring the levels of peripheral blood circular RNAs (circRNAs) as biomarker candidates for the diagnosis of new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The selected twenty-two circRNAs in peripheral blood from new-onset RA patients and healthy controls (HC) were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The levels of hsa_circ_0002715, hsa_circ_0001947, hsa_circ_0000367, and hsa_circ_0035197 were significantly increased in the peripheral blood of new-onset RA patients than in the peripheral blood of HC. And, there were obvious differences in the above four peripheral blood circRNAs between new-onset RA patients and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Moreover, there were obvious differences in hsa_circ_0001947 and hsa_circ_0035197 between new-onset RA patients and patients with undiagnosed arthritis (UA). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested that the levels of hsa_circ_0002715 and hsa_circ_0000367 in peripheral blood could distinguish new-onset RA patients from the HC, AS patients, and SLE patients, and the levels of hsa_circ_0001947 and hsa_circ_0035197 in peripheral blood could distinguish new-onset RA patients from the HC, AS patients, SLE patients, and UA patients. The logistic regression model showed that the combination of hsa_circ_0002715 and hsa_circ_0035197 could provide the best diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.758 (sensitivity: 72.9%, specificity: 71.4%). Moreover, the levels of peripheral blood hsa_circ_0002715 were correlated with swollen joint count (SJC), tender joint count (TJC), disease duration, rheumatoid factor (RF), anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), and hematologic disorder. And, the levels of peripheral blood hsa_circ_0035197 were correlated with hematologic disorder. This study suggests that the combination of hsa_circ_0002715 and hsa_circ_0035197 in peripheral blood may be a potential biomarker of patients with new-onset RA and may be associated with disease activity.

Luo Q ，Liu J ，Fu B ，Zhang L ，Guo Y ，Huang Z ，Li J ... -  《-》

Expression profile and diagnostic value of circRNAs in peripheral blood from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Luo Q ，Li X ，Fu B ，Zhang L ，Fang L ，Qing C ，Guo Y ，Huang Z ，Li J ... -  《-》

Peripheral blood circular RNA hsa_circ_0082688-hsa_circ_0008675 can be used as a candidate biomarker of systemic lupus erythematosus with renal involvement.

Luo Q ，Zhang L ，Xiong L ，Fu B ，Guo Y ，Huang Z ，Li J ... -  《CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY》

Expression and clinical significance of circular RNAs hsa_circ_0000175 and hsa_circ_0008410 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Luo Q ，Zeng L ，Zeng L ，Rao J ，Zhang L ，Guo Y ，Huang Z ，Li J ... -  《-》