Identification of Pivotal MicroRNAs and Target Genes Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Based on Bioinformatics Analysis

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common supraventricular arrhythmias worldwide. However, the specific molecular mechanism underlying AF remains unclear. Our study is aimed at identifying pivotal microRNAs (miRNAs) and targeting genes associated with persistent AF (pAF) using bioinformatic...

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Main Authors: Shengjue Xiao, Yufei Zhou, Qiaozhi Liu, TianTian Zhang, Defeng Pan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2021-01-01
Series:Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6680211
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spelling doaj-9f0858bc95d44e01a12d3a33a97c008f2021-03-22T00:03:30ZengHindawi LimitedComputational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine1748-67182021-01-01202110.1155/2021/6680211Identification of Pivotal MicroRNAs and Target Genes Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Based on Bioinformatics AnalysisShengjue Xiao0Yufei Zhou1Qiaozhi Liu2TianTian Zhang3Defeng Pan4Department of CardiologyDepartment of CardiologyDepartment of CardiologyDepartment of CardiologyDepartment of CardiologyAtrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common supraventricular arrhythmias worldwide. However, the specific molecular mechanism underlying AF remains unclear. Our study is aimed at identifying pivotal microRNAs (miRNAs) and targeting genes associated with persistent AF (pAF) using bioinformatics analysis. Three gene expression array datasets (GSE31821, GSE41177, and GSE79768) and an miRNA expression array dataset (GSE68475) associated with pAF were downloaded. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the LIMMA package, and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were screened from GSE68475. Target genes for DEMs were predicted using the miRTarBase database, and intersections between these target genes and DEGs were selected for further analysis, including the generation of protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, miRNA–transcription factor–target regulatory network, and drug–gene network. A total of 264 DEGs and 40 DEMs were identified between the pAF and control groups. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses of up- and downregulated DEGs were performed. The common genes (CGs) were primarily enriched in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase- (PI3K-) protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, negative regulation of cell division, and response to hypoxia. The PPI network, miRNA–transcription factor–target regulatory network, and drug–gene network were constructed using Cytoscape. The present study revealed several novel miRNAs and genes involved in pAF. We speculated that miR-4298, miR-3125, miR-4306, and miR-671-5p could represent significant miRNAs that act on the target gene superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) during the development of pAF and may serve as essential biomarkers for pAF diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, MYC might function in pAF pathogenesis through the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6680211
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Shengjue Xiao
Yufei Zhou
Qiaozhi Liu
TianTian Zhang
Defeng Pan
spellingShingle Shengjue Xiao
Yufei Zhou
Qiaozhi Liu
TianTian Zhang
Defeng Pan
Identification of Pivotal MicroRNAs and Target Genes Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Based on Bioinformatics Analysis
Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
author_facet Shengjue Xiao
Yufei Zhou
Qiaozhi Liu
TianTian Zhang
Defeng Pan
author_sort Shengjue Xiao
title Identification of Pivotal MicroRNAs and Target Genes Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Based on Bioinformatics Analysis
title_short Identification of Pivotal MicroRNAs and Target Genes Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Based on Bioinformatics Analysis
title_full Identification of Pivotal MicroRNAs and Target Genes Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Based on Bioinformatics Analysis
title_fullStr Identification of Pivotal MicroRNAs and Target Genes Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Based on Bioinformatics Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Identification of Pivotal MicroRNAs and Target Genes Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Based on Bioinformatics Analysis
title_sort identification of pivotal micrornas and target genes associated with persistent atrial fibrillation based on bioinformatics analysis
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
issn 1748-6718
publishDate 2021-01-01
description Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common supraventricular arrhythmias worldwide. However, the specific molecular mechanism underlying AF remains unclear. Our study is aimed at identifying pivotal microRNAs (miRNAs) and targeting genes associated with persistent AF (pAF) using bioinformatics analysis. Three gene expression array datasets (GSE31821, GSE41177, and GSE79768) and an miRNA expression array dataset (GSE68475) associated with pAF were downloaded. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the LIMMA package, and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were screened from GSE68475. Target genes for DEMs were predicted using the miRTarBase database, and intersections between these target genes and DEGs were selected for further analysis, including the generation of protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, miRNA–transcription factor–target regulatory network, and drug–gene network. A total of 264 DEGs and 40 DEMs were identified between the pAF and control groups. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses of up- and downregulated DEGs were performed. The common genes (CGs) were primarily enriched in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase- (PI3K-) protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, negative regulation of cell division, and response to hypoxia. The PPI network, miRNA–transcription factor–target regulatory network, and drug–gene network were constructed using Cytoscape. The present study revealed several novel miRNAs and genes involved in pAF. We speculated that miR-4298, miR-3125, miR-4306, and miR-671-5p could represent significant miRNAs that act on the target gene superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) during the development of pAF and may serve as essential biomarkers for pAF diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, MYC might function in pAF pathogenesis through the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6680211
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