Cell Type-Selective Expression of Circular RNAs in Human Pancreatic Islets.

ABSTRACT: Understanding distinct cell-type specific gene expression in human pancreatic islets is important for developing islet regeneration strategies and therapies to improve ?-cell function in type 1 diabetes (T1D). While numerous transcriptome-wide studies on human islet cell-types have focused on protein-coding genes, the non-coding repertoire, such as long non-coding RNA, including circular RNAs, remains mostly unexplored. Here, we explored transcriptional landscape of human ?-, ?-, and exocrine cells from published total RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) datasets to identify circular RNAs (circRNAs). Our analysis revealed that circRNAs are highly abundant in both ?- and ?-cells. We identified 10,830 high-confidence circRNAs expressed in human ?-, ?-, and exocrine cells. The most highly expressed candidates were MAN1A2, RMST, and HIPK3 across the three cell-types. Alternate circular isoforms were observed for circRNAs in the three cell-types, indicative of potential distinct functions. Highly selective ?- and ?-cell circRNAs were identified, which is suggestive of their potential role in regulating ?-cell function.

SUBMITTER: Kaur S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6316812 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature