Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025
Author Spotlight: Unlocking the Mysteries of Oral Potential Malignancies
Published on: August 11, 2023
Comprehensive analysis of microRNAs and their target genes in oral submucous fibrosis
Padacherri Vethil Jishnu1, Sangeetha U Shenoy1, Mohit Sharma2
1Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
Abstract:
The objective of the study is to understand the role of experimentally validated microRNAs (miRNAs) contributing to the acquisition of oncogenic phenotype in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) by computational analysis. A comprehensive review was carried out to corroborate and summarize altered miRNA expression in OSF by retrieving relevant publications querying MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus. The association between the miRNA-mRNA was performed using miRTarBase 8.0. The visualization of the miRNA-mRNA interaction was plotted using Cytoscape. MIENTURNET was used for the pathway analysis. Enrichment analysis was carried out for elucidating the hierarchical functions of miRNAs related to the acquisition of biological processes involved in the development of cancer. Thirteen miRNAs (hsa-miR-499a, hsa-miR-200b, hsa-miR-200c, hsa-miR-1246, hsa-miR-31, hsa-miR-10b, hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-203, hsa-miR-455, hsa-miR-760, hsa-miR-623, hsa-miR-610, and hsa-miR-509-3-5p) were found to be deregulated in OSF. A total of 371 experimentally validated genes were shown to be interacting with the OSF-associated miRNAs. The targets of antifibrotic and profibrotic miRNAs were enriched in the cancer-related pathways. Dysregulated miRNA and its target genes illustrate the physiological role of miRNAs in fibrosis. Understanding the miRNA-mediated fibrotic signaling and targetting the specific miRNA-target gene interaction might provide relevant cues to ameliorate the fibrotic disease.
Insights
This study computationally analyzes microRNAs (miRNAs) in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), identifying 13 deregulated miRNAs and 371 target genes. Understanding these miRNA-gene interactions offers potential therapeutic strategies for fibrosis and cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a precancerous condition characterized by progressive fibrosis.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression implicated in various diseases, including cancer.
- The precise role of miRNAs in the oncogenic transformation associated with OSF requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To computationally identify and analyze experimentally validated microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the development of the oncogenic phenotype in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF).
- To explore the interactions between deregulated miRNAs and their target genes within cancer-related pathways in OSF.
- To understand the physiological role of miRNA-mediated signaling in fibrosis and its potential link to cancer progression.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus to identify altered miRNA expression in OSF.
- miRNA-mRNA interactions were analyzed using miRTarBase 8.0.
- Pathway analysis was performed using MIENTURNET, and enrichment analysis was employed to elucidate miRNA functions in cancer-related biological processes.
- miRNA-mRNA interactions were visualized using Cytoscape.
Main Results:
- Thirteen specific miRNAs (including hsa-miR-499a, hsa-miR-200b/c, hsa-miR-31, hsa-miR-21) were found to be significantly deregulated in OSF.
- A total of 371 experimentally validated genes were identified as targets interacting with these OSF-associated miRNAs.
- Enrichment analysis revealed that targets of both antifibrotic and profibrotic miRNAs were significantly associated with cancer-related pathways.
Conclusions:
- Dysregulated miRNAs and their target genes play a significant physiological role in the fibrotic process of OSF.
- The identified miRNA-target gene interactions are implicated in pathways crucial for cancer development.
- Targeting specific miRNA-mediated fibrotic signaling pathways presents a potential therapeutic avenue for ameliorating OSF and its associated oncogenic risks.
