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Original Research

A miR-212-3p/SLC6A1 Regulatory Sub-Network for the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

, , , , , , , , ORCID Icon & ORCID Icon show all
Pages 5063-5075 | Published online: 28 Jun 2021
 

Abstract

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a liver cancer with a poor prognosis. Owing to the complexity and limited pathogenic mechanism research on HCC, the molecular targeted therapy has been hindered.

Methods

In this study, we categorized transcriptome data into low-Myc and high-Myc expression groups in 365 HCC samples, screened the differentially expressed RNAs, including 441 DE-lncRNAs, 99 DE-miRNAs and 612 DE-mRNAs, constructed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network, and selected a hub triple regulatory network through cytoHubba analysis. Through Gene ontology and KEGG pathway, a hub regulatory network was particularly enriched in the “Wnt signaling pathway” and “Cytochrome P450-arranged by substrate type” by Metascape. The prognostic genes in the hub regulatory network were evaluated by the RNA expression analysis, Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival analysis, and correlation analysis.

Results

The results showed that miR-212-3p/SLC6A1 axis was a potential prognostic model for HCC. Furthermore, IHC analysis showed down-regulated expression of SLC6A1 in HCC tissues and Alb-Cre;Myc mouse liver cancer tissues. The genetics and epigenetic analysis indicated that SLC6A1 expression was negatively correlated with DNA methylation. Immune infiltration analysis showed a negative relation between SLC6A1 and T cell exhaustion/monocyte in liver cancer tissues.

Conclusion

In summary, the study revealed that miR-212-3p/SLC6A1 axis could serve as a crucial therapeutic target for HCC.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.