Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2020, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (5): 355-362.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2020.05.005

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Differential microRNAs expression and bioinformatics analyses in HBE cells exposed to PM2.5

CAI Ying1,2, LI Runbing1,2, ZHENG Kai1,2, QIN Shuangjian1,3, LI Boru1,3, ZHANG Zhaohui2, XU Xinyun1   

  1. 1. Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong;
    2. School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang 421001;
    3. Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China
  • Received:2020-05-20 Revised:2020-09-03 Online:2020-10-01 Published:2020-10-12

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of PM2.5 on HBE cells using microRNA (miRNA) sequencing and bioinformatics methods. METHODS: HBE cells were treated with 50 μg/mL PM2.5 suspension and untreated cells were used as control. Total RNA samples were extracted 24 hours later. The Small RNA sample pretreatment kit was used to construct a library and the illumina HiSeqTM 2500/MiSeq sequencing platform was used for high-throughput sequencing. The differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained according to the screening criteria of adjusted P < 0.05,and the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by miRanda and RNAhybrid software,and then GO and KEGG function enrichment analyses were performed. The STRING database and the Cytoscape software were used to visualize interactions between miRNAs and target genes and between target genes. RESULTS: Using high-throughput sequencing methods,a total of 1 137 miRNAs were detected before and after PM2.5 exposure in HBE cells. Among them,27 miRNAs were differentially expressed,including 7 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated. The enrichment analyses using GO and KEGG show that these differential miRNAs were mainly involved in biological processes such as cell metabolism and enzyme activity regulation. They are mainly involved with metabolic,PI3K-Akt signaling,cancer,Ras signaling,MAPK signaling pathways,etc. related to cell proliferation,differentiation,apoptosis and cancer. By constructing an interaction network diagram,the core miRNAs with the number of TOP 11 interactions such as miR-371b-3p,miR-371a-5p,miR-27a-3p,miR-7-5p,miR-372-3p,and 3 core target genes (VEGFA,MAPK3,CCR5) were identified. CONCLUSION: 27 miRNAs were differentially expressed after HBE cells were exposed to PM2.5. These miRNAs are involved with the PI3K-Akt signaling,Ras signaling,MAPK signaling pathways,etc. which are involved with the development of cancer. Among them,11 core miRNAs and 3 core genes were screened,our results provide the scientific basis for further study of the carcinogenic mechanism of PM2.5.

Key words: PM2.5, human bronchial epithelial cells, microRNA, bioinformatics, signal pathway

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