Circular RNAs (
circRNAs) regulate mRNA translation by binding to
microRNAs (
miRNAs), and their expression is altered in diverse disorders, including
cancer,
cardiovascular disease, and
Parkinson's disease. Here, we compare
circRNA expression patterns in the temporal cortex and hippocampus of patients with pharmacoresistant mesial
temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and healthy controls. Nine
circRNAs showed significant differential expression, including circRNA-HOMER1, which is expressed in synapses. Further, we identified
miRNA binding sites within the sequences of differentially expressed (DE)
circRNAs; expression levels of mRNAs correlated with changes in complementary
miRNAs. Gene set enrichment analysis of
mRNA targets revealed functions in
heterocyclic compound binding, regulation of transcription, and signal transduction, which maintain the structure and function of hippocampal neurons. The
circRNA-
miRNA-
mRNA interaction networks illuminate the molecular changes in MTLE, which may be pathogenic or an effect of the disease or treatments and suggests that DE
circRNAs and associated
miRNAs may be novel therapeutic targets.