CircRNA expression profiles in human visceral preadipocytes and adipocytes

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate several physiological and pathological processes, but their role in visceral lipid deposition has not been explored. In the present study, human preadipocytes from visceral fat tissue (HPAv) were induced to form adipocytes, and the circRNA expression profiles in HPAv and adipocytes were detected using circRNA microarrays. The microarray data revealed that 2,215 and 1,865 circRNAs were significantly up and downregulated, respectively, in adipocytes compared with HPAv. Moreover, the parental genes of differentially expressed circRNAs were associated with fatty acid metabolism based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. Three circRNAs (hsa_circ_0136134, hsa_circ_0017650, and hsacircRNA92271) were selected for quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation, and the qPCR results were consistent with the microarray results. Furthermore, MiRanda software was used to predict the microRNAs (miRNAs) potentially targeting the top 10 up and downregulated circRNAs, and 14 miRNAs with more than two miRNA response elements targeting these circRNAs. This is the first study of the expression profiles of circRNAs in HPAv and adipocytes and may suggest potential therapeutic targets for the visceral obesity.