1st International and 10th National Iranian Conference on Bioinformatics
Home Accepted Papers
The importance of circular RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma based on molecular pathways analysis of their microRNA sponges
Paper ID : 1074-ICB10
Authors:
Mohammad Hossein Donyavi1, صدرا صالحی-مازندرانی2, Parvaneh Nikpour *2
1Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract:
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent kind of liver cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death globally [1]. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), as a type of non-coding RNAs, have been noticed in recent years due to their important features. CircRNAs can function as microRNA sponges and transcription modulators, and can interact with RNA-binding proteins [2]. According to studies, circRNAs can play a significant role in cellular metabolism, which can help us to identify new cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets. In this study, we determined differentially expressed circRNAs in HCC and recognized their potentially related molecular pathways.

Materials and Methods: Two HCC datasets, including GSE94508 (5 cancerous and 5 paracancerous samples) and GSE97332 (7 cancerous and 7 paracancerous samples) were selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs). These two datasets were combined, and the batch effect was eliminated using the sva R package. The limma R package was then used to identify DECs with threshold of |log2FC| > 2 and adjusted p-value < 0.05. Subsequently, the CircInteractome database was utilized to detect microRNAs interacting with the DECs based on the context+ score percentile ≥ 90. Furthermore, DIANA-miRPath v.3 was used to reveal molecular pathways relating to these microRNAs (p-value < 0.01).

Results: Nine DECs (including five upregulated and four downregulated) were identified between cancerous and paracancerous HCC samples. 57 unique microRNAs interacting with the DECs were revealed. Finally, the mirPath database demonstrated 44 significant signaling pathways such as proteoglycans in cancer, Fatty acid biosynthesis, hippo signaling pathway, and adherens junction, which are cancer-associated.

Conclusion: This study provides an overview of differentially expressed circRNAs in HCC that are linked to cancer-related pathways as microRNA sponges. Further research can uncover the precise processes by which circRNAs function in HCC.
Keywords:
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; RNA, Circular; MicroRNAs; Bioinformatic
Status : Paper Accepted (Poster Presentation)