This article is based on a ConA-induced autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) mouse model, constructing a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, and systematically analyzing its potential regulatory role in the pathogenesis of AIH. The study screens for differentially expressed circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA through high-throughput sequencing, constructs ceRNA networks with bioinformatics methods, and verifies the expression of key molecules circ_0001577, miR-7055-3p, and Akt3 using qRT-PCR and Western blot. The results show that circ_0001577 is significantly upregulated in the model group, adsorbs miR-7055-3p through "sponge" adsorption, releases its inhibition on the target gene Akt3, thereby promoting Akt3 expression and exacerbating liver injury. Serum ALT, AST levels, and liver tissue MDA, NO content are positively correlated with circ_0001577 and Akt3, and negatively correlated with miR-7055-3p, indicating that this axis is involved in the process of liver cell injury. The innovation lies in the first revelation of the regulatory role of the circ_0001577/miR-7055-3p/Akt3 signaling axis in AIH, providing a new perspective for the molecular mechanism of AIH, and suggesting that circ_0001577 may be a potential therapeutic target.
This study constructs a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network based on microarray data, systematically revealing the regulatory role of circular RNA in the autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) mouse model and its association with liver injury. AIH is a disease characterized by immune-mediated chronic liver injury, with a complex pathogenesis involving genetic, immune regulatory imbalance, and multiple factors interacting. In recent years, circRNA has received extensive attention in inflammation and autoimmune diseases due to its high stability and its function as a "miRNA sponge" regulating gene expression. The study screens for 11,178 differentially expressed molecules (DEM), 49 differentially expressed miRNA (DEMi), and 27 differentially expressed circRNA (DEC), constructs 5,795 ceRNA pairs, and finds that circ_0001577 is in a core position in the network, which may regulate the expression of downstream target genes by adsorbing various miRNA such as miR-7055-3p, miR-101c, and so on, thereby affecting the process of liver injury. Further analysis shows that key genes such as Akt3 are significantly associated with liver injury indicators, suggesting that this network has potential functional significance in the development of the disease. Therefore, this study not only provides a new perspective for understanding the molecular mechanism of AIH but also lays a theoretical foundation for finding new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.