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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
Published on: March 30, 2019
Small RNA sequencing highlights a potential regulatory network mediated by Gecko miRNA affecting the prognosis of
Zhaosheng Li1, Jing Zhao2, Linzhu Lu1
1School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Background:
Gecko has been widely documented in Chinese scientific literature as an anti-tumor agent for various illnesses for thousands of years, and more recently, it has been examined for its anti-tumor effects on several cancers. The effect of Gecko microRNAs (miRNAs) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been reported.
Objectives:
This study was designed to identify miRNAs in Gecko through small RNA sequencing and utilize bioinformatics techniques to construct a potential regulatory network and explore the possible mechanisms of exogenous miRNAs involved in HCC.
Material And Methods:
RNA was extracted from Gecko tablets, and we screened the Gecko miRNA expression dataset after high-throughput sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify novel Gecko and HCC survival-related miRNA-mRNA cross-species regulation networks.
Results:
miR-100-5p, miR-99a-5p and miR-101-3p were identified as critical for the role of Geckos in HCC. Nine downstream mRNAs (EZH2, KPNA2, LMNB1, LRRC1, MRGBP, SMARCD1, STMN1, SUB1, and UBE2A) were identified as target genes for critical miRNAs. A miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed these key mRNAs might be associated with both the suppression and progression of HCC. The novel network significantly correlated with the abundance of multiple immune cells, as determined with immune infiltration analysis.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that Gecko may inhibit progression and exert a therapeutic effect on HCC by targeting critical miRNA-mRNA networks for cross-species regulation. It also provides a reference for future research and development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
Insights
Gecko microRNAs (miRNAs) show potential in treating liver cancer (HCC). This study identified key Gecko miRNAs and their target genes, revealing a regulatory network that may inhibit HCC progression and offer therapeutic insights for traditional Chinese medicine.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genomics
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Gecko has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an anti-tumor agent.
- Recent studies explored Gecko's anti-tumor effects, but its microRNAs (miRNAs) role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remained uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify Gecko miRNAs and construct a regulatory network for HCC using bioinformatics.
- To explore the mechanisms of exogenous miRNAs in HCC progression and suppression.
Main Methods:
- Small RNA sequencing was used to screen Gecko miRNA expression.
- Bioinformatics analysis identified cross-species miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks related to HCC survival.
- Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses were performed on target genes.
Main Results:
- Three critical miRNAs (miR-100-5p, miR-99a-5p, miR-101-3p) and nine target mRNAs were identified.
- A novel miRNA-mRNA regulatory network potentially involved in HCC suppression and progression was constructed.
- This network showed significant correlation with immune cell infiltration in HCC.
Conclusions:
- Gecko may inhibit HCC progression via cross-species miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks.
- Findings support Gecko's therapeutic potential for HCC and provide a basis for TCM research.
- The identified regulatory network offers insights into novel therapeutic strategies for HCC.
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