Background:The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network plays an important
role in the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. This study aimed to construct a
ceRNA network related to exosomes in diabetic retinopathy (DR).Methods:We explored the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and then analyzed the
RNAs of samples to obtain differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), miRNAs (DEMs) and
mRNAs (DEGs) alongside the progress of DR. Next, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analysis
of DEGs, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)
analysis of up-DEGs were performed. In addition, a ceRNA network related to exosomes in DR
was constructed on the base of DELs, DEMs and DEGs. Finally, the function of the ceRNA network
was explored by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis.Results:Through our analysis, 267 DELs (93 up and 174 down), 114 DEMs (64 up and 50 down)
and 2368 DEGs (1252 up and 1116 down) were screened. The GSEA analysis results show that
these genes were mainly related to cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, hippo signaling pathway
and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. The GO and KEGG results show that these up-DEGs were
mainly enriched in viral gene expression, components of ribosomes, mineral absorption, Wntprotein
binding, and TGF-β signaling pathway. Besides, a ceRNA network, including 15 lncRNAs
(e.g., C1orf145, FGF14-IT1, and PRNT), 3 miRNAs (miR-10a-5p, miR-1297 and miR-507) and 11
mRNAs (NCOR2, CHAC1 and LIX1L, etc.) was constructed. Those 5 lncRNAs were up-regulated, 1
miRNA was down-regulated and 5 mRNAs were up-regulated in DR, while 10 lncRNAs were downregulated,
2 miRNAs were up-regulated and 6 mRNAs were down-regulated in DR.Conclusion:The novel ceRNA network that we constructed will provide new insights into the underlying
molecular mechanisms of exosomes in DR.