Mining miRNAs' Expressions in Glioma Based on GEO Database and Their Effects on Biological Functions

To mine miR expression in glioma based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and to explore its effects on biological functions.

Differentially expressed miRs in glioma-related chips were found out based on the GEO database. Fifty patients with glioma treated in our hospital from February 2012 to July 2013 (observation group, OG) and a further 50 healthy people undergoing physical examinations (control group, CG) were enrolled. miR-873-5p expression in serum and in U87, T98G, U251, LN-229, and HEK-293T cells was tested by qRT-PCR. T98G and U251 cells were transfected with miR-873-5p-mimics and miR-NC sequences. The expression in the two cells was also tested by qRT-PCR. The proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of the transfected cells were, respectively, tested by MTT assay, Transwell, and flow cytometry. The patients were followed up for 5 years to observe their survival.

miR-873-5p expression in OG was remarkably higher than that in CG (p < 0.001). miR-873-5p was closely correlated with the tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, and TNM staging of the patients (p < 0.05). According to the plotted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the areas under the curves (AUCs) of miR-873-5p for diagnosing the disease, tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, and TNM staging were 0.842, 0.706, 0.865, and 0.793, respectively. The 5-year and recurrence-free survival rates in the low expression group were lower than those in the high expression group. According to multivariate Cox regression analysis, tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, and miR-873-5p were independent prognostic factors for the disease. After transfection, compared with those in the miR-NC group, T98G and U251 cells in the miR-873-5p-mimic group had remarkably higher miR-873-5p expression (p < 0.05), remarkably lower proliferation and invasion rates (p < 0.05), and a remarkably higher apoptotic rate (p < 0.05).

miR-873-5p can inhibit glioma cells to proliferate and invade, and promote their apoptosis, so it is expected to become a potential diagnostic index and therapeutic target for glioma.