Aim: Circular RNAs (circRNAs), are nonprotein coding RNAs consisting of a circular loop with multiple miRNA, binding sites called miRNA response elements (MREs), functioning as miRNA sponges. This study was performed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs and their MREs in basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
Materials & methods: Microarray circRNA expression profiles were acquired from BCC and control followed by qRT-PCR validation. Bioinformatical target prediction revealed multiple MREs. Sequence analysis was performed concerning MRE interaction potential with the BCC miRNome.
Results: We identified 23 upregulated and 48 downregulated circRNAs with 354 miRNA response elements capable of sequestering miRNA target sequences of the BCC miRNome.
Conclusion: The present study describes a variety of circRNAs that are potentially involved in the molecular pathogenesis of BCC.
Keywords: basal cell carcinoma; circRNAs; circular RNA; noncoding RNAs.