LncRNA expression profile, functional analysis and potential biomarkers in children with pancreaticobiliary maljunction

Abstract

Background The present study was aimed to investigate the expression profile of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and its potential as biomarker for pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM). Methods The differential expression of lncRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) from 15 pediatric patients with PBM and 15 control subjects were analyzed with microArray and validated with quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Gene Ontology enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were used to investigate the biological functions of these genes. The area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to predict the biomarker of lncRNA in PBM. Results There were 2915 mRNAs and 173 lncRNAs upregulated, 2121 mRNAs and 316 lncRNAs downregulated in PBM cases, respectively. The enriched GO associated with differentially expressed mRNA were extracellular matrix, extracellular region and kinetochore. The most enriched pathway of Protein digestion and absorption was associated with cancer and PI3K-Akt signaling. Cis- and Trans-target gene analysis indicated that mRNAs were predicted to be regulated by one lncRNA and one mRNA corresponded to several lncRNAs. The results showed that the expression trends of NR_110876, NR_132344, XR_946886 and XR_002956345 were consistent with the microarray results, and the difference was statistically significant NR_132344, XR_946886 and XR_002956345 (P < 0.05).The AUC of ROC curve was significant only for XR_946886 (0.837, P < 0.001). Conclusion The present study indicated that lncRNAs were involved the pathogenesis of common bile duct in PBM and XR_946886 would be biomarkers for PMB.