A Novel miRNA–mRNA Axis Involves in Regulating Transcriptional Disorders in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Figures & data

Figure 1 Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMIs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in tumor tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues from pancreatic cancer patients. (A and C) Volcano plots of DEMIs and DEGs in GEO database. The red dots represent the upregulated genes based on an adjusted p < 0.05 and log FC > 1; the green dots represent the downregulated genes based on an adjusted p < 0.05 and log FC < −1; the black spots represent genes with no significant difference in expression. (B and D) The heat map of down- and upregulated DEMIs and DEGs in the integrated microarray analysis. Each column represents one dataset and each row represents one gene. The number in each rectangle represents the value of log2FC.

Abbreviations: FC, fold change; GEO, Gene Expression Omnibus.

Figure 2 Enriched transcription factors by differentially expressed microRNAs target genes. The top 10 most significant transcription factors include EGR1, SP1, POU2F1, SP4, NKX6-1, RREB1, LHX3, SOX1, FOXA1, HOXA3.

Abbreviations: EGR1, early growth response 1; SP1, Sp1 transcription factor; POU2F1, POU Class 2 Homeobox 1; SP4, Sp4 transcription factor; NKX6-1, NK6 Homeobox 1; RREB1, Ras Responsive Element Binding Protein 1; LHX3, LIM Homeobox 3; SOX1, SRY-Box Transcription Factor 1; FOXA1, Forkhead Box A1; HOXA3, Homeobox A3.

Figure 3 GO enrichment analysis of the DEMIs, (A) biological process. (B) cellular component. (C) molecular function.

Figure 4 MiRNA–mRNA interaction network of key genes. To integrate the largest linker network in miRNA–mRNA interaction network. The shape of the node represents different types of genes: diamond, DEGs; oval, DEMIs.

Figure 5 Identification of key miRNAs by evaluating their prognosis in PAAD. (A) miR-217. (B) miR-455-3p.

Figure 6 Identification of target mRNAs by evaluating their prognosis in PAAD. (A) HOXC4. (B) DLG4. (C) DYNLL1. (D) MGLL. (E) FBXO45.

Figure 7 GO functional analysis of target DEGs. (A) Biological process. (B) Cellular component. (C) Molecular function.

Abbreviations: GO, Gene Ontology; DEGs, differentially expressed genes.

Figure 8 KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.

Abbreviation: KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.

Figure 9 Expression of miRNAs and Target Genes in normal human pancreatic duct epithelial cells and PAAD cell lines. (A) Expression of miR455-3p in normal human pancreatic duct epithelial cells and PAAD cell lines by qRT-PCR. (B–F) qRT-PCR analysis of HOXC4, DLG4, DYNLL1, MGLL, FBXO45 mRNA expression in normal human pancreatic duct epithelial cells and PAAD cell lines (the values represent mean ± SD). The asterisks are used to indicate a statistically significant difference: * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01.

Abbreviations: HOXC4, Homeobox C4; DLG4, Discs Large MAGUK Scaffold Protein 4; DYNLL1, Dynein Light Chain LC8-Type 1; MGLL, Monoglyceride Lipase; FBXO45, F-Box Protein 45; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR.