Comprehensive analysis of a long non-coding RNA-mediated competitive endogenous RNA network in glioblastoma multiforme

The present bioinformatics study focused on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; grade IV glioma), a common and aggressive type of primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) to regulate gene expression by interacting with microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer. These mechanisms and phenomenon are always present but they may be deregulated or activated in cancer. In the present study, a computational method was applied to construct lncRNA-mediated ceRNA networks by integrating lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles and miRNA-mediated interactions, and functional Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analyses were performed. From the ceRNA network, a total of 7 miRNAs, 159 lncRNAs and 31 mRNAs were obtained that were differentially expressed between GBM and adjacent tissue groups. Through survival analysis based on these RNAs from the ceRNA network, 2 mRNAs and 14 lncRNAs that had a significant impact on the survival of GBM patients were identified. Subsequently, GO and pathway analyses revealed that certain functions of the differentially expressed mRNAs were associated with processes important for the pathogenesis of GBM. The biological functions of several miRNA-mediated ceRNAs in GBM were predicted. The present study provides novel insight that may enhance the understanding of the functions of ceRNAs in GBM, as well as biomarkers for the development of therapies for GBM.