Circular RNA expression profile analysis of severe acne by RNA ‐Seq and bioinformatics

Background Acne is a common chronic skin disease with a multifactorial aetiology and pathogenesis. Recently, circular RNA s (circ RNA s) have been identified as a key factor in regulating gene expression through circ RNA –mi RNA – mRNA networks in many biological processes and human diseases. However, the circ RNA s expression in patients with acne is still unknown. Objective To investigate circ RNA expression profile in severe acne. Methods The expression profile of circ RNA s in three paired lesional skin and adjacent non‐lesional skin in severe acne was detected by high‐throughput RNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis. The candidate circ RNA s were validated by PCR , Sanger sequencing and qRT ‐ PCR in the separate group ( n = 4). The circ RNA –mi RNA – mRNA interaction networks were predicted. Results A total of 538 circ RNA s including 271 up‐ and 267 downregulated circ RNA s were differentially expressed in lesional skin compared with adjacent non‐lesional skin in severe acne. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the aberrantly expressed circ RNA s were primarily involved in inflammatory, metabolism and immune responses. Five candidate circ RNA s (circ RNA _0084927, circ RNA _0001073, circ RNA _0005941, circ RNA _0086376 and circ RNA _0018168) were validated to have significant decrease in severe acne by PCR , Sanger sequencing and qRT ‐ PCR , in agreement with the results from RNA ‐Seq data analysis. The five identified circ RNA s were predicted to interact with 213 mi RNA s and regulated target gene expression. Conclusion This study firstly showed that circ RNA s were differentially expressed in severe acne and suggested that circ RNA s could be used as a potential biomarker for the drug targets of acne.