RNA-Seq profiling revealed PBMC RNA as potential biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies with extremely high incidence and mortality rates. Although there have been many studies focus on biomarkers study, few have been reported on PBMC RNA profiles of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods In this study, we attempted to profile the expression of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) RNA by using RNA-seq technology and compared the transcriptome between hepatocellular carcinoma patients and the healthy controls. 17 patients and 17 healthy controls involved in this study, PBMCs RNA were sequenced. The sequencing data were analyzed with bioinformatics tools and qRT-PCR was used for selected differential expressed gene validation. Results It is showed that 1578 dysregulated genes found including 1334 upregulated genes and 244 downregulated genes. GO enrichment and KEGG analysis denoted most of the differential expressed genes (DEGs) involved in immune response are closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma. Expression of the 6 selected genes (DEGs, SELENBP1, SLC4A1, SLC26A8, HSPA8P4, CALM1, and RPL7p24) were confirmed by qRT-PCR, and higher sensitivity and specificity obtained by ROC analysis of the 6 genes. CALM1 was found gradually decreasing along with the tumor enlarged. Conclusions It is suggested potential biomarker for diagnosis, classification and therapeutic target of hepatocellular carcinomas. This study provided new visions into development of liver cancer and potential efficient clinical diagnosis in the future.