Target genes prediction and functional analysis of microRNAs differentially expressed in gastric cancer stem cells MKN-45.

CONTEXT: Since mechanisms of microRNAs (miRNAs) in gastric cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their signaling pathways remain unknown, our aim was to predict the miRNA target genes that differentially expressed in gastric CSCs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using miRanda, PicTar, and TargetScan algorithm, target genes of miRNAs differentially expressed in gastric CSCs versus parental cells were predicted. Afterward, signaling pathways and biological functions of miRNAs in gastric CSCs were analyzed by the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database and DIANA tools. RESULTS: Gene ontology (GO) tool indicated that most of miRNA target genes involved in regulation of cell cycle, apoptosis, cell migration, vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, etc. Some of miRNA target genes are connected to pivotal signaling pathways of the "stem cell genes," such as Notch, Wnt/ß-catenin. CONCLUSIONS: Bioinformatics analysis such as DAVID database, GO biological process, GO molecular function, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways, BioCarta pathway, Panther pathway, and Reactome pathway revealed that target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs in gastric CSCs were connected to pivotal biological pathways that involved in cell cycle regulation, stemness properties, and differentiation.