Background: The dysregulation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is closely related to the development of essential hypertension (EH). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an important regulator of RAAS. The sponge effect of circular RNAs (circRNAs) on miRNAs makes the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in EH possible, however, there is currently a lack of relevant evidence.Material and Methods: A circRNA-miRNA network was constructed based on the previous circRNAs microarray results. The expression of RAAS-related miRNAs and circRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR. Peripheral blood samples of 106 EH patients and 106 healthy volunteers were included in this study. GO and KEGG enrichment were performed to predict the role of candidate circRNAs in EH.Results: In EH patients, RAAS-related hsa-miR-483-3p and hsa-miR-27a-3p were down-regulated, and hsa_circ_0122153 and hsa_circ_0025088 were up-regulated. The relative expression of RAAS-related circRNAs and target miRNAs showed a negative correlation (hsa_circ_0122153-hsa-miR-483-3p and hsa_circ_0025088-hsa-miR-27a-3p). Hsa_circ_0122153 or hsa_circ_0025088 combined with corresponding miRNAs and environmental factors may support the early diagnosis of EH. Hsa_circ_0122153 and hsa_circ_0025088 may participate in the regulation of aldosterone and the secretion of renin through the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, respectively.Conclusion: Highly expressed hsa_circ_0122153 and hsa_circ_0025088 increase the risk of EH. The hsa_circ_0122153/hsa-miR-483-3p and hsa_circ_0025088/hsa-miR-27a-3p axis involving RAAS were potential EH pathways.
Keywords: Circrna; RAAS; essential hypertension; miRNA.