Objective: To elucidate the role of the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in immune infiltration of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: We obtained differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Then, we identified immune infiltration by CIBERSORT and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis and discovered co-expression genes by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Furthermore, STAT1-mediated Th1 differentiation was determined in DR cell models, DR patients and DR mouse models. Results: hsa_circ_0087100/hsa-miR-6743-5p/STAT1 was involved in immune infiltration of Th1 cells. Aberrant expression of the ceRNA network and STAT1-mediated Th1 differentiation was thus verified in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: hsa_circ_0087100/hsa-miR-6743-5p/STAT1 may affect Th1 cell differentiation in DR.
Keywords: STAT1; Th1 cell; ceRNA network; diabetic retinopathy; immune regulation.