Biomarker Identification in Membranous Nephropathy Using a Long Non-coding RNA-Mediated Competitive Endogenous RNA Network

This study was aimed to identify biomarker associated with membranous nephropathy (MN) progression by integration of expression profiles and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis. The gene (GSE108113) and microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profiles (GSE64306) were downloaded to identify the differentially expressed mRNAs, miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) between MN and control groups. The functions and pathways enriched by the differentially expressed mRNAs were analyzed. The mRNA-lncRNA co-expression network was constructed followed by and the ceRNA network construction. Total 264 upregulated and 196 downregulated differentially expressed mRNAs, 79 upregulated and 4 downregulated lncRNAs, as well as 115 upregulated and 93 downregulated miRNAs were obtained between MN and control groups. After analysis, the differential mRNAs were significantly involved in multiple immune-related processes, and cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation processes, as well as pathways of taste transduction and lysosome. Finally, a ceRNA network consisting of 4 mRNAs (EPB41L5, FAM43A, PRKG1 and TTC14), 3 lncRNAs (LINC00052, LINC00641 and N4BP2L2-IT2) and 5 miRNAs (hsa-miR-145-5p, hsa-miR-3605-5p, hsa-miR-148a-3p, hsa-miR-497-5p and hsa-miR-148b-3p) was constructed. Our study indicated dysregulation of immune- and apoptosis-associated functions and taste transduction and lysosome pathways may play important roles in MN progression. Deregulated ceRNAs, such as LINC00052-hsa-miR-145-5p-EPB41L5, LINC00052-hsa-miR-148a-3p-FAM43A and LINC00641-hsa-497-5p-PRKG1, may be associated with MN development.