High-throughput sequencing analysis of differentially expressed microRNAs associated with SREBP1 in differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) interact with genes posttranscriptionally and play important roles in progression and prognosis in multiple cancers. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) is an important lipid metabolism regulatory gene. The aim of the present study was to analyze the profiles of miRNAs that associated with SREBP1 expression in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). In the present study, a high-throughput small RNA sequencing (miRNA-Seq) method was used to investigate differences in miRNA profiling with versus without interference in the expression of SREBP1 via small interfering RNA. Real-time qPCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to confirm the results. A total of 1393 conserved and 84 novel miRNAs were successfully discovered. Among them, 27 (11 upregulated and 16 downregulated) differentially expressed miRNAs were significantly altered in BCPAP cells following SREBF1 interference of two fragments compared with the control in two batch. Hsa-miR-941, hsa-miR-27a-5p, hsa-miR-29a-3p, hsa-miR-100-5p, and hsa-miR-21-3p were selected for validation by qRT-PCR. The qRT-PCR results were consistent with the sequencing data. GO enrichment showed that the predicted targets of these miRNAs were mainly involved in the regulation of system development, metabolism and protein binding cellular processes, and metabolic processes. KEGG pathways analysis showed that predicted target genes were involved in several signaling pathways, including the Ras, MAPK, insulin, thyroid hormone and metabolic pathway signaling pathways. Our findings suggest that differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes may play an important role in the progression and prognosis of DTC that related with SREBP1 expression.