The present study aimed to determine the profile of differentially expressed
circular RNAs (
circRNAs) in infertile patients treated with acupuncture and
moxibustion and verify the role of acupuncture and
moxibustion in altering endometrial receptivity (ER). High‑throughput
RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of samples from six pairs of patients treated with or without acupuncture and
moxibustion were conducted. The reliability of high‑throughput
RNA sequencing was validated using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. The most significant
circRNA functions and pathways were selected by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. A circRNA‑miR‑mRNA interaction network was constructed to determine the connection between
circRNAs,
microRNAs (miRs), and mRNAs. High‑throughput
RNA sequencing identified 2,653
circRNAs. A total of 86
circRNAs was differentially expressed, of which 57 were upregulated and 29 were downregulated, between the acupuncture and
moxibustion group and the control group. In the GO analysis, the identified BP terms were
chromatin modification, positive regulation of transcription from
RNA polymerase II promoter involved in unfolded protein response, oxidative DNA demethylation, regulation of transcription from
RNA polymerase II promoter in response to
hypoxia, and regulation of smooth muscle cell differentiation. The identified CC terms were nucleoplasm, nucleolus, nucleus,
histone acetyltransferase complex, and annulate lamellae. The identified MF terms were methylcytosine
dioxygenase activity,
chromatin binding,
zinc ion binding,
histone binding, and protein binding. In the KEGG pathway analysis, the identified pathways were
protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, degradation of aromatic compounds,
shigellosis, mTOR signaling pathway, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, and
prostate cancer. Circ‑SFMBT2, circ‑BACH1, and circ‑LPAR1 were significantly upregulated (P<0.05) and associated with numerous miRs and mRNAs. Acupuncture and
moxibustion could impact ER by regulating the expression of
circRNAs.