Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 40226122 DOI: 10.1016/j.plabm.2025.e00464
Integrative analysis of exosomal ncRNAs and their regulatory networks in liver cancer progression.
Pract Lab Med 45:e00464
Authors: Farzin Mirzaei-Nasab, Ahmad Majd, Yousef Seyedena, Nazanin Hosseinkhan, Najma Farahani, Mehrdad Hashemi
Affiliations
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, Sure. Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, Sure.
- Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health challenge with complex molecular underpinnings. Recent advancements in understanding the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and exosomes in cancer biology have opened new avenues for research into potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Methods
This study utilized a comprehensive approach to analyze gene expression patterns and regulatory networks in HCC. We integrated RNA sequencing data gathered from both tissue samples and exosomes. The WGCNA and limma R packages were employed to construct co-expression networks and identify differentially expressed ncRNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs).
Results
Our analysis demonstrated distinct expression profiles of various ncRNAs in HCC, revealing their intricate interactions with cancer-related genes. Key findings include the identification of a network of microRNAs that interact with selected lncRNAs and their potential roles as biomarkers. Moreover, exosomal RNA was shown to effectively reflect tissue-specific gene expression changes.
Conclusions
The results of this study highlight the significance of exosomal ncRNAs in the progression of liver cancer, suggesting their potential as both diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Future research should focus on the functional implications of these ncRNAs to further elucidate their roles in HCC and explore their applications in clinical settings.
MeSH
Genes, Neoplasms, Rna, Circular, Liver, Biomarkers, Liver Neoplasms, Exosomes, Research, Therapeutics, Tissues, Gene Expression