Placental transcriptome sequencing combined with bioinformatics predicts potential genes and circular RNAs associated with hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome

Aim Hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome (BHFS) is the most severe form of α‐thalassemia. Histological alternations can be observed in placenta, but placental transcriptome profile and circular RNAs have not been studied in this disease. The aim of this study was to define the placental transcriptional changes and find relevant circular RNAs in BHFS. Methods We performed high‐throughput RNA sequencing to detect placental samples from fetuses affected by BHFS (n = 5) and normal fetuses (NF, n = 5), quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), and Sanger sequencing to validate the differentially expressed circRNAs and their potentially related miRNAs (BHFS, n = 22; NF, n = 11). Bioinformatics methods were performed for further analysis. Results Our results showed 152 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 112 circRNAs, and 45 microRNAs that were differentially expressed. DEGs were found to be involved in Gene Ontology terms related to gas transport, cell adhesion, oxidative stress, organ development, hemopoiesis, and others. RT‐qPCR results showed that hsa_circ_0003961 and hsa_circ_0006687 were upregulated (p