Network analysis of microRNAs, genes and their regulation in human bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is the fifth most common malignancy occurring worldwide and a significant cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Although BC is a serious health issue, studies available concerning the relationship of genes, microRNAs (miRNAs) and their host genes has been lacking. In the present study, we assessed experimentally validated data from various sources that reported the effect of miRNA on various diseases, miRNA targeting of mRNAs, and combined these data with initial transcription factor (TF) binding site predictions within miRNA promoter regions. Topology networks obtained in this study included the differentially expressed, BC-associated and global networks. The three networks may be used to assess the effect of miRNAs and their regulation in human BC. By comparing and analyzing the similarities and differences among the three networks, key nodes with the largest potential of affecting the behavior of a particular network were identified. The results also showed potentially substantially influential miRNAs and TFs, which revealed subnetworks demonstrating the mechanisms involved as well as regulatory miRNA network motifs in human BC. Regulatory pathways regarding differentially expressed elements, such as genes and miRNAs, demonstrate self-adapting associations including, self-adapting associations and feedback loops in genes MYC, TP53, PTEN and 10 differentially expressed miRNAs. The differentially expressed network partially identified the BC mechanism. miRNA-targeted human BC genes were also enriched in highly relevant pathways, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. The present study systematically delineated the pathogenesis of BC and provided theoretical foundations for gene therapy investigators to focu attention on key genes and miRNAs in future studies.