Construction of ceRNA regulatory network in mice with Echinococcosis-induced allergic reactions.

BACKGROUND

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common chronic zoonotic parasitic disease infected with the Echinococcus granulosus. This study aimed to construct the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and investigate the mechanism of mice in echinococcosis sensitization.

METHODS

The animal model of echinococcosis was established in mice, and the RNA sequencing was then performed using cysts. The differentially expressed RNAs (DERNAs: DEmRNAs, DEmiRNAs, and DElncRNAs) were screened between anaphylactic mice or non-anaphylactic mice and controls, respectively. The interactions of two DERNAs groups were identified and the ceRNA network was constructed. Moreover, the potential biological functions and pathways of the DEmRNAs were explored by enrichment analyses. Finally, the qRT-PCR and the western blot were performed to validate the expression levels of key RNAs and proteins.

RESULTS

A total of 285 common DEmRNAs, 157 common DElncRNAs and 4 common DEmiRNAs were observed. CeRNA network contained 3 DElncRNAs, 4 DEmiRNAs, and 27 DEmRNAs corporately. Enrichment results revealed that the functions of DEmRNAs focus on biological functions and pathways that specifically interact with the immune inflammatory response. In addition, the expression of 1700099I09Rik, let-7a-5p, Ccl28 and IL-13 was validated by RT-qPCR and western blot.

CONCLUSION

In this study, ceRNA network associated with CE sensitization in mice was constructed. The DEmRNAs in this network may be key clues for the immune mechanism of CE sensitization.