Screening and bioinformatic analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs in serum of patients with pneumoconiosis
10.11763/j.issn.2095-2619.2021.02.002
- Author:
Guo YANG
1
;
Yuan-meng QI
1
;
Pei-yan YANG
1
;
Chao LI
1
;
Jing-jing WEI
1
;
Wu YAO
1
;
Chang-fu HAO
1
Author Information
1. School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Pneumoconiosis;
Silicosis;
Pulmonary fibrosis;
Serum;
miRNA;
Differentially expression;
Transcription factor;
Bioinformatics
- From:
China Occupational Medicine
2021;48(02):127-134
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To screen the differentially expressed microRNA(miRNA) in the serum of patients with occupational pneumoconiosis(hereinafter referred to as pneumoconiosis), and explore their potential target genes and related transcription factors using bioinformatics analysis. METHODS: The pneumoconiosis and miRNA related reports were searched from the Google academic website. The miRNA sequencing or high-throughput microarray data sets based on the serum samplings of pneumoconiosis patients(case group) and normal healthy individuals(control group) were selected to screen for the differentially expressed miRNAs. Serum samples of patients with occupational silicosis and healthy controls were collected, and the relative expression of miRNAs was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction to verify the differential expression of miRNAs. The target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted in the database of miRWalk, analyzed by Gene Ontology(GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) signaling pathway prediction. The transcription factor analysis of target genes was carried out by the database for annotation. RESULTS: Seven differentially expressed miRNAs were screened out and verified. Among them, five were up-regulated and two were down-regulated. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG signaling pathway prediction showed that the up-regulated differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly related to RNA polymerase Ⅱ promoter transcription and extracellular matrix, and were mainly involved in the occurrence and development of pulmonary fibrosis through adhesion plaque, protein digestion and absorption, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways. The down-regulated differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly related to the transcription of RNA polymerase Ⅱ promoter and the activity of DNA sequence specific transcription factors, that were mainly involved in the occurrence and development of pulmonary fibrosis through the signaling pathway of related hormone release. Transcription factor annotation results showed that SMAD family member 3, proto-oncogene JUN, forkhead box O1, early growth factor 1, β-catenin and other transcription factors may have an important relationship with the occurrence and development of pneumoconiosis. CONCLUSION: The seven miRNAs were differentially expressed in the serum of patients with pneumoconiosis. These miRNAs could be used as potential biomarkers for understanding the pathogenesis, the early diagnosis and treatment pneumoconiosis.
