Background: This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of osteoarthritis (OA) and provide information about new genes as potential targets for OA treatment.
Methods: Gene expression profile of GSE105027, including 12 OA serum samples (OA group) and 12 healthy serum samples (ctrl group), was downloaded. The differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) as well as miRNA-mRNAs interactions were investigated, followed by function and pathway investigation. Then the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was performed. Furthermore, the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-miRNA-mRNA interactions (competing endogenous RNAs, ceRNAs) were investigated.
Results: A total of 17 downregulated miRNAs were revealed between OA and ctrl groups. These DEMs such as has-miR-1202 were mainly enriched in GO functions like histone acetyltransferase binding and KEGG pathways like cellular senescence. The integrated PPI network analysis showed that has-miR-1202, has-miR-33b-3p, has-miR-940, has-miR-4284, and has-miR-4281 were 5 downregulated miRNAs in this network. Furthermore, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions such as KCNQ1OT1-has-miR-1202-ETS1 were revealed in the present ceRNA network.
Conclusion: Key DEMs such as miR-33b-3p, miR-940, and miR-1202 may be involved in OA. miR-1202 may regulate OA development via histone acetyltransferase pathway binding function and cellular senescence pathway. Furthermore, KCNQ1OT1-has-miR-1202-ETS1 might be vital for the process of OA.
Keywords: Competing endogenous RNAs; Differentially expressed miRNAs; Function and pathway analysis; Osteoarthritis; Protein-protein interaction network.