Bioinformatics study of miR-۳۰۱a as a blood-borne biomarker for detection of breast cancer

Introduction: MicroRNAs are small non-coding molecules, which play a regulatory role in posttranscriptionalgene expression. In this study, using bioinformatics databases, expression levels, target genes,cellular location and genetic pathways of miR-۳۰۱a were investigated as a blood-borne biomarker fordetection of breast cancer.Methods: Focusing on bioinformatics aspects, miRbase and GEO databases were used to determinechromosomal profile, target genes and validation of miR-۳۰۱a as a blood-borne biomarker. The cellularlocation of miR-۳۰۱a and its expression levels in different organs, especially the breast in a healthy andtumorous state were evaluated in the GeneCards and GEPIA۲ database. Finally, the DAVID database wasused for genetic pathways analysis.Results and Discussion: MiR-۳۰۱a gene is located on chromosome ۱۷q۲۲. The miR-۳۰۱a is overexpressedin breast cancer and plays a role in the post-transcriptional pathway of approximately ۲۷۶۰ genes which couldlead to a variety of diseases by mutations in these genes. Among these genes, mutations in ۱۵۱ of them cancause breast cancer. MiR-۳۰۱a can be widely found in whole blood because it was identified to be transportedout of the cells after transcription.Conclusion: Current study reveals that miR-۳۰۱a plays a role in the post-transcriptional pathway of a largenumber of genes. It is also highly expressed in breast cancer as a blood-borne biomarker. As a result, miR-۳۰۱a has a great potential for clinical diagnosis of breast cancer.

Keywords:

Blood-borne biomarker , Breast cancer , MiR-۳۰۱a