Candidate roles of two miR-383 and miR-380-3p in neural differentiation

MicroRNAs are reported as playing important roles in neural differentiation, but the complex mechanisms of neural differentiation are always a barrier to finding the significance of microRNAs in neural differentiation. Our hypothesis was that high-throughput techniques with systems biology network could be used to solve these complicated mechanisms. To this end, we made an attempt to candidate new microRNAs in neural differentiation mechanisms using high throughput and systems biology network approaches.

We utilized meta-analysis with five microarrays in both genes and microRNAs expression databases with R programming language. Then, we constructed proteinprotein interaction (PPI) network from DEGs using GeneMania plug-in in Cystoscape environment. Also, to find miR that are in interaction with DEGs of neural differentiation, we used two TargetScan and miRTarBase databases. The results of two miR database were compared with the those of DEmiR and we finaly reported some DE-miR that have interaction with DEGs in neural differentiation

Our results showed that 443 DEGs and 148 DE-miR in neural differentiation process after meta-analysis of five databases. Next, the 443 DEGs were analyzed using two TargetScan and miRTarBase microRNAs database and the results revealed 252 miR, so 252 miR were compared with 148 DE-miR and the results indicated that only four miR 124, 29a, 383, and miR-380-3p were present in both lists. In addition, PPI network was constructed with 443 DEGs and the results of GO indicated four anterior posterior pattern specification, Neural tube development, Stem cells differentiation, and Forebrain development pathways. PPI network of four pathways are extracted and analyzed using four DE-miR candidates, and then two miR-383 and miR-380-3p were reported as candidate microRNAs to play a role in neural differentiation process.

Our results suggest that the two miR-383 and miR-380-3p play a role in neural differentiation process.