Integrated analysis of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is particularly prevalent in East and Southeast Asia. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks are known to play an essential role in the emergence of various diseases, including cancer. Building a network of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and ceRNAs can facilitate the detection of potential connections between messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and various non-coding RNAs. However, the precise role of ceRNA networks in NPC has not been examined in detail. Therefore, the primary aim of the present study was to characterize a ceRNA network for NPC.

Methods: Datasets of microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and mRNA microarrays were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Data were standardized and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using the limma package. The ClusterProfiler software suite was used to perform enrichment analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) techniques.

Results: A total of 160 lncRNAs, 8 miRNAs, and 147 mRNAs were differentially expressed in NPC samples. A ceRNA network was constructed using four lncRNAs, five miRNAs, and one mRNA that were dysregulated in NPC. Cellular functions of the abnormally expressed mRNAs were mainly associated with tumor cell movement, cell growth and proliferation, cell cycle, invasion, and metastasis.

Conclusions: The ceRNA network constructed herein clarified the regulatory mechanisms through which lncRNAs act as ceRNAs and participate in NPC development. Notably, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs identified in this ceRNA network can serve as therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for NPC.