Human Left Ventricle circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network Analyses Reveal a Novel Proangiogenic Role for circNPHP1 Under Ischemic Conditions

Therapies promoting microvascular flow and endothelial repair require effective identification of new targets in ischemic heart disease (IHD). The aim of this study was to unravel and functionally investigate circular RNA (circRNA)-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) networks in endothelial cells in the context of IHD and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We performed RNA sequencing on left ventricle biopsies from patients with IHD, IHD and T2DM, and non-IHD. Next, we created circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks and mechanistically investigated the top circRNA-miRNA sponging interactions in endothelial cells. We found that circNPHP1 promotes angiogenesis via sponging of miR-221-3p and regulates its downstream target genes, VEGFA and BCL2, in IHD and T2DM.