Mapping of microRNAs related to cervical cancer in Latin American human genomic variants

Background: MicroRNAs are related to human cancers, including cervical cancer (CC) caused by HPV. In 2018, approximately 56.075 cases and 28.252 deaths from this cancer were registered in Latin America and the Caribbean according to GLOBOCAN reports. The main molecular mechanism of HPV in CC is related to integration of viral DNA into the hosts’ genome. However, the different variants in the human genome can result in different integration mechanisms, specifically involving microRNAs (miRNAs). Methods: The miRNAs associated with CC were obtained from literature, the miRNA sequences and four human genome variants (HGV) from Latin American populations were obtained from miRBase and 1000 Genomes Browser, respectively. HPV integration sites near cell cycle regulatory genes were identified. miRNAs were mapped on HGV. miRSNPs were identified in the miRNA sequences located at HPV integration sites on the Latin American HGV. Results: Two hundred seventy-two miRNAs associated with CC were identified in 139 reports from different geographic locations. By mapping with Blast-Like Alignment Tool (BLAT), 2028 binding sites were identified from these miRNAs on the human genome (version GRCh38/hg38); 42 miRNAs were located on unique integration sites; and miR-5095, miR-548c-5p and miR-548d-5p were involved with multiple genes related to the cell cycle. Thirty-seven miRNAs were mapped on the Latin American HGV (PUR, MXL, CLM and PEL), but only miR-11-3p, miR-31-3p, miR-107, miR-133a-3p, miR-133a-5p, miR-133b, miR-215-5p, miR-491-3p, miR-548d-5p and miR-944 were conserved. Conclusions: Ten miRNAs were conserved in the four HGV. In the remaining 27 miRNAs, substitutions, deletions or insertions were observed. These variation patterns can imply differentiated mechanisms towards each genomic variant in human populations because of specific genomic patterns and geographic features. These findings may help in determining susceptibility for CC development. Further identification of cellular genes and signalling pathways involved in CC progression could lead new therapeutic strategies based on miRNAs.