Construction of a competitive endogenous RNA network and analysis of potential regulatory axis targets in glioblastoma
Abstract Background Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor. Due to the limited understanding of its pathogenesis, the prognosis of glioblastoma is poor. The purpose of this study is to explore potential ceRNA network chains and biomarkers in glioblastoma through integrated bioinformatics analysis. Methods Transcriptome expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and Gene Expression Omnibus were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes between glioblastoma tissue and normal tissue. The potential biological pathways associated with the differentially expressed genes were explored using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, and a protein-protein interaction network was established using the STRING database and Cytoscape. Survival analysis using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis was based on the Kaplan-Meier curve method. The ceRNA network chain was established using the intersection method to align data from four databases (miRTarBase, miRcode, TargetScan, and lncBace2.0), and expression differences and correlations were verified by using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis and determining the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results A total of 2842 DEmRNAs, 2577 DElncRNAs, and 309 DEmiRNAs were dysregulated in glioblastoma. The final ceRNA network consisted of six specific lncRNAs, four miRNAs, and four mRNAs. Among them, four DEmRNAs and one DElncRNA were correlated with overall survival (p < 0.05). We found that C1S was significantly correlated with overall survival (p = 0.015) and could therefore be used as a biomarker for glioblastoma. Conclusions Four ceRNA networks were established that may influence the occurrence and development of glioblastoma. Among them, the MIR155HG/has-miR-129-5p/C1S axis may be a potential marker and therapeutic target. In particular, C1S has not yet been reported in glioblastoma studies. These findings clarify the role of the ceRNA regulatory network in glioblastoma and lay a foundation for further research.