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Updated: Jul 27, 2025
Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
Published on: March 30, 2019
Integrative analysis of negatively regulated miRNA-mRNA axes for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Shuang Peng1,1, Shiyu Zhang1,1, Xingchen Fan2,1
1Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Background:
MicroRNAs regulating mRNA expression by targeting at mRNAs is known constructive in tumor occurrence, immune escape, and metastasis.
Objective:
This research aims at finding negatively regulatory miRNA-mRNA pairs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
Methods:
GENE expression data of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO database were employed in differently expressed RNA and miRNA (DE-miRNAs/DE-mRNAs) screening. Function analysis was conducted with DAVID-mirPath. MiRNA-mRNA axes were identified by MiRTarBase and TarBase and verified in esophageal specimen by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) were applied in miRNA-mRNA pairs predictive value estimation. Interactions between miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs and immune features were analyzed using CIBERSORT.
Results:
Combining TCGA database, 4 miRNA and 10 mRNA GEO datasets, totally 26 DE-miRNAs (13 up and 13 down) and 114 DE-mRNAs (64 up and 50 down) were considered significant. MiRTarBase and TarBase identified 37 reverse regulation miRNA-mRNA pairs, 14 of which had been observed in esophageal tissue or cell line. Through analysis of RT-qPCR outcome, miR-106b-5p/KIAA0232 signature was chosen as characteristic pair of ESCC. ROC and DCA verified the predictive value of model containing miRNA-mRNA axis in ESCC. Via affecting mast cells, miR-106b-5p/KIAA0232 may contribute to tumor microenvironment.
Conclusions:
The diagnostic model of miRNA-mRNA pair in ESCC was established. Their complex role in ESCC pathogenesis especially tumor immunity was partly disclosed.
Insights
Researchers identified a key microRNA-messenger RNA (miRNA-mRNA) pair, miR-106b-5p/KIAA0232, as a diagnostic marker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This finding sheds light on the role of miRNA-mRNA interactions in ESCC development and tumor immunity.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of gene expression, impacting tumor development, immune evasion, and metastasis.
- Understanding miRNA-mRNA interactions is vital for deciphering cancer pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify negatively regulatory miRNA-mRNA pairs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
- To establish a diagnostic model for ESCC based on miRNA-mRNA interactions.
- To explore the role of these interactions in tumor immunity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases for differential expression analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs.
- Employed bioinformatics tools (DAVID-mirPath, MiRTarBase, TarBase) to identify and validate miRNA-mRNA axes.
- Validated findings in esophageal specimens using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
- Assessed predictive value using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA).
- Analyzed interactions with immune features using CIBERSORT.
Main Results:
- Identified 26 differentially expressed miRNAs and 114 differentially expressed mRNAs.
- Discovered 37 potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs, with 14 previously observed in esophageal tissues or cell lines.
- The miR-106b-5p/KIAA0232 signature was identified as a characteristic pair for ESCC.
- A diagnostic model incorporating this miRNA-mRNA axis demonstrated significant predictive value for ESCC.
- The miR-106b-5p/KIAA0232 axis may influence the tumor microenvironment by affecting mast cells.
Conclusions:
- Established a diagnostic model for ESCC utilizing a specific miRNA-mRNA pair.
- Partially elucidated the complex role of miRNA-mRNA interactions in ESCC pathogenesis, particularly in relation to tumor immunity.
