Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is becoming increasingly common and posing a severe threat to men's health, particularly in developing countries. The function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in PSCC progression remains mysterious. Therefore, we explored the significance of lncRNAs in the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in PSCC tumor progression. The 5 healthy and 6 tumor tissue samples were subjected to lncRNA sequencing. Using miRcode, LncBase, miRTarBase, miRWalk, and TargetScan, we constructed a ceRNA network of differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Our analysis resulted in a ceRNA network consisting of 4 lncRNAs, 18 miRNAs, and 38 mRNAs, whose upstream regulators, the lncRNAs MIR205HG, MIAT, HCP5, and PVT1, were all elevated in PSCC. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that cell proliferation-related genes TFAP2C, MKI67, and TP63, positively regulated by 4 lncRNAs, were considerably overexpressed in tumor tissues. Immune analysis revealed a significant upregulation in macrophage and exhausted T cell infiltration in PSCC. Our study identified a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network for PSCC, revealing possible molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of PSCC progression by key lncRNAs and their connections to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The ceRNA network provides a novel perspective for elucidating the pathogenesis of PSCC.
Genes and immunity. 2024 Sep 06 [Epub ahead of print]
Jian Cao, Lin Du, Xueheng Zhao, Zhizhong Liu, Junbin Yuan, Yanwei Luo, Shanshan Zhang, Zailong Qin, Jie Guo
Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China., Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China., NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China., Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China., Department of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China., Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defect Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China. ., National Institution of Drug Clinical Trial, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. .