Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are important biological markers and regulators of cardiac function. The natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA), also known as NPR1 or guanylyl cyclase A, binds ANP and BNP to initiate transmembrane signal transduction by elevating the intracellular levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate. However, the effects and mechanisms downstream of NPRA are largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in the global pattern of mRNA and circular RNA (circRNA) expression in NPRA‑/‑ and NPRA+/+ myocardium. Differentially expressed mRNA molecules were characterised using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and were found to be primarily related to metabolic processes. Moreover, circRNA expression was also examined, and a possible competing endogenous RNA network consisting of circRNA, microRNA (miRNA), and mRNA molecules was constructed. The results of this study indicated that NPRA may play a role in cardiac metabolism, which could be mediated by circRNA through endogenous competition mechanisms. These findings may provide insight into future characterisation of various ceRNA network pathways.
Keywords: circular RNA; microRNA; mRNA; natriuretic peptide receptor; metabolism; myocardium.