Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of hyperlipidemia using integrated lncRNA and mRNA microarray data

Bianling Xu; Nan Wang; Xuegong Xu; Yongmin Cai

doi:10.3892/etm.2021.11083

Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of hyperlipidemia using integrated lncRNA and mRNA microarray data

Exp Ther Med. 2022 Feb;23(2):160. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.11083. Epub 2021 Dec 20.

Authors

Bianling Xu^{1

2

3}, Nan Wang², Xuegong Xu^{2

3}, Yongmin Cai⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Chinese Medicine Literature, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China.
² Laboratory of Zhengzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, P.R. China.
³ Department of Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Clinical Medicine Department, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, P.R. China.
⁴ Zhang Zhongjing Inheritance and Innovation Center, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, P.R. China.

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have key roles in various diseases; however, their functions in hyperlipidemia (HLP) have remained elusive. In the present study, microarray technology was utilized to analyze the differential expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs in liver tissues of apolipoprotein E^-/- mice as a model of HLP compared with control mice. A total of 104 and 96 differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs, respectively, were identified. Differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in biological processes such as nitric oxide biosynthesis, innate immune response and inflammatory response. Finally, two pairs of target genes and 38 transcription factors with regulatory functions in HLP were predicted based on the lncRNA and mRNA co-expression network. The lncRNA expression profile was significantly altered in liver tissues of the mouse model of HLP and may provide novel targets for research into treatments.

Keywords: ApoE-/- mice; co-expression network; differentially expressed genes; hyperlipidemia; lncRNAs.

Grants and funding

Funding: This study was supported by a grant from the study on the distribution rule of traditional Chinese medicine constitution in patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque (grant no. 20140518).