Bioinformatics-based identification of miRNAs, mRNA, and regulatory signaling pathways involved in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: The current study analyzed the miRNA microarray dataset (GSE66274) and gene expression microarray dataset (GSE38129) with similar samples to achieve a better understanding of miRNA-mRNA interactions. BACKGROUND: The most common form of esophageal cancer is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). While, miRNAs are well recognized as having a critical regulatory role in human cancer, their responsibilities and mechanisms of miRNA-mRNA in ESCC are unknown. METHODS: Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified using the LIMMA package in R. In total, 478 DEmRNA (224 upregulated and 254 downregulated) and 39 DEmiRNA (15 upregulated and 24 downregulated) were screened. The RNAInter database analyzed miRNA-mRNA interactions; then, the miRNA-mRNA network was visualized by Cytoscape software. ClusterProfiler packages were used to perform gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses for DEmRNA as targets of DEmiRNAs. RESULTS: KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the p53 signaling pathway, ECM−receptor interaction, and AGE−RAGE signaling pathway were significant. Cellular response to amino acid stimulus, negative regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway, and endoderm formation were most prevalent in the biological process category. Additionally, the collagen−containing extracellular matrix, actomyosin complex collagen trimers, basement membrane, and extracellular matrix structural constituent were more enriched. CONCLUSION: Overall, the present survey provides evidence that could support the prognosis of esophageal tumors in the future.