A comprehensive competitive endogenous RNA network pinpoints key molecules in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe microvascular complication of diabetes and the primary cause of vision loss in diabetic patients. Previous research has revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of DR. However, the roles of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions in DR are poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to compute a global triple network of competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in order to pinpoint essential molecules. We found that there were 802 nodes (121 lncRNA nodes, 17 miRNA nodes, and 664 mRNA nodes) and 949 edges in the ceRNA network. Further functional analysis suggested that some molecules were specifically related to DR. Surprisingly, these molecules were involved in visual perception, eye development, and lens development in camera-type eye. In summary, our study highlighted specific lncRNAs and miRNAs related to the pathogenesis of DR, which might be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for DR.