AUTHOR=Fan Xingchen , Zou Xuan , Liu Cheng , Liu Jiawen , Peng Shuang , Zhang Shiyu , Zhou Xin , Wang Tongshan , Geng Xiangnan , Song Guoxin , Zhu Wei 

TITLE=Construction of the miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Networks and Explore Their Role in the Development of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2022.888020

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2022.888020

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose:</bold> MicroRNA (miRNA) binds to target mRNA and inhibit post-transcriptional gene expression. It plays an essential role in regulating gene expression, cell cycle, and biological development. This study aims to identify potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks that contribute to the pathogenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC).</p><p><bold>Patients and Methods:</bold> MiRNA microarray and RNA-Seq datasets were obtained from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) databases, the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), miRcancer, and dbDEMC. The GEO2R tool, “limma” and “DEseq” R packages were used to perform differential expression analysis. Gene enrichment analysis was conducted using the DAVID, DIANA, and Hiplot tools. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were screened from the experimentally validated miRNA-target interactions databases (miRTarBase and TarBase). External validation was carried out in 30 pairs of LUSC tissues by Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) were conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value. Clinical, survival and phenotypic analysis of miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were further explored.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> We screened 5 miRNA and 10 mRNA expression datasets from GEO and identified 7 DE-miRNAs and 270 DE-mRNAs. After databases screening and correlation analysis, four pairs of miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were screened out. The miRNA-mRNA network of miR-205-5p (up) and PTPRM (down) was validated in 30 pairs of LUSC tissues. MiR-205-5p and PTPRM have good diagnostic efficacy and are expressed differently in different clinical features and are related to tumor immunity.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The research identified a potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory network, providing a new way to explore the genesis and development of LUSC.</p>