RT-qPCR-based validation of RNA-seq results
To verify the validity of the RNA-seq data generated above, six DECs were selected for RT-qPCR-based validation in a larger cohort of PBMC samples. The observed patterns of differential circRNA expression in AS and control samples were confirmed by these analyses. Specifically, hsa_circ_0000702, hsa_circ_0006209, and hsa_circ_0047920 were found to be considerably upregulated, while hsa_circ_0001543, hsa_circ_0072697, and hsa_circ_0005076 were significantly downregulated (Fig. 4). These RNA-seq results were deemed stable and reliable. As such, these RNA-seq results were deemed stable and reliable.