Bioinformatic Identification of key pathways and hub genes targeted to a panel of signature miRNAs in Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Background and Aim: The unknown molecular nature of Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL lymphoma) and the growing evidence for the role of miRNAs in this disease, led to a panel of five miRNAs, to be subjected to bioinformatics analysis in order to better study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease.Methods: Five miRNAs which in previous studies has been introduced as key microRNAs in distinguishing DHBLC lymphoma and its various clinicopathological subtypes, considered as differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). Bioinformatic analyses were employed to find their molecular target genes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) and Gene enrichment analysis were constructed using String and Cytoscape, respectively, to identify a selected collection of Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs). Top ۱۰ genes were then used for further studies. To identify the pathways where these selected DEGs are involved in, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed using the DAVID online database.Results: Altogether among ۱۰۹۶ DEGs identified as common targets of these (DEMs), ۲۶ genes were screened out as hub genes. Top ۱۰ genes such as SRC, MAPK۱, PIK۳R۱, ESR۱, MAPK۱۴, KRAS, MAPK۸, CREB۱, SDC۲, BRCA۱ and their linked cellular and functional pathway were selected.Conclusion: The results indicated that the expression of these top ۱۰ DEGs was significantly associated with the main cellular and functional process in the DHBLC lymphoma. Hence paved away for a more understanding about the cellular and molecular backgrounds underlying the pathogenesis of this cancer and may provide potential targets for its therapy.

Keywords:

DLBCL lymphoma , microRNA , Differentially expressed genes , Protein–protein interaction network , Hub genes , Bioinformatics analysis