Open Access

Four potential microRNAs affect the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting MET via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

  • Authors:
    • Li-Chao Yao
    • Xiu-Hua Jiang
    • Si-Si Yan
    • Wei Wang
    • Lun Wu
    • Lu-Lu  Zhai
    • Feng Xiang
    • Tao Ji
    • Lin Ye
    • Zhi-Gang Tang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 24, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12588
  • Article Number: 326
  • Copyright: © Yao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common tumor subtype of pancreatic cancer, which exhibits poor patient prognosis due to the lack of effective biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment. The present study aimed to identify the potential biomarkers of PDAC carcinogenesis and progression using three microarray datasets, GSE15471, GSE16515 and GSE28735, which were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The datasets were analyzed to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PDAC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. A total of 143 DEGs were identified, including 132 upregulated genes and 11 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional and signaling pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the DEGs, and the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database was used to construct a protein‑protein interaction network. The main functions of DEGs include extracellular matrix degradation, and regulation of matrix metalloproteinase activity and the PI3K‑Akt signaling pathway. The five hub genes were subsequently screened using Cytoscape software, and survival analysis demonstrated that abnormal expression levels of the hub genes was associated with poor disease‑free survival and overall survival. Biological experiments were performed to confirm whether mesenchymal‑to‑epithelial transition (MET) factors promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of PDAC cells via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In addition, six MET‑targeted microRNAs (miRNAs) were identified, four of which had conserved binding sites with MET. Based on the signaling pathway enrichment analysis of these miRNAs, it is suggested that they can affect the progression of PDAC by targeting MET via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, the hub genes and miRNAs that were identified in the present study contribute to the molecular mechanisms of PDAC carcinogenesis and progression. They also provide candidate biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment of patients with PDAC.
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April-2021
Volume 21 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Yao L, Jiang X, Yan S, Wang W, Wu L, Zhai L, Xiang F, Ji T, Ye L, Tang Z, Tang Z, et al: Four potential microRNAs affect the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting MET via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 21: 326, 2021
APA
Yao, L., Jiang, X., Yan, S., Wang, W., Wu, L., Zhai, L. ... Tang, Z. (2021). Four potential microRNAs affect the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting MET via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Oncology Letters, 21, 326. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12588
MLA
Yao, L., Jiang, X., Yan, S., Wang, W., Wu, L., Zhai, L., Xiang, F., Ji, T., Ye, L., Tang, Z."Four potential microRNAs affect the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting MET via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway". Oncology Letters 21.4 (2021): 326.
Chicago
Yao, L., Jiang, X., Yan, S., Wang, W., Wu, L., Zhai, L., Xiang, F., Ji, T., Ye, L., Tang, Z."Four potential microRNAs affect the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting MET via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway". Oncology Letters 21, no. 4 (2021): 326. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12588