ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the expression level of hsa-miR-422a in hypertrophic scars and to identify the target genes of hsa-miR-422a along with their biological functions using bioinformatics approaches.Methods:From June 2020 to December 2020, tissue samples of 3 hypertrophic scar and 3 normal skin were collected from patients (3 males, 3 females, aged 20-42 years) in Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. Primary fibroblasts were isolated and cultured. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to quantify the expression of hsa-miR-422a. To construct a ceRNA network, starbase and Target Scandata bases were utilized to predict genes as well as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that may sponge hsa-miR-422a. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were conducted on the target genes of hsa-miR-422a; protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed to identify the hub genes whose functions were predicted by functional enrichment analyses. The expression of hub genes was validated through real-time quantitative PCR in hypertrophic scars.Results:The expression of hsa-miR-422a was significantly lower in the hypertrophic scar tissue samples and fibroblasts compared to that in the normal skin ( P<0.05). 133 target genes as well as 1033 lncRNAs were predicted by starBase and TargetScandata bases and used to construct an hsa-miR-422a-centered ceRNA network. PPI networks of the target genes revealed 10 hub genes, including MAPK1, GRB2, and IGF1R, which were discovered to be related to protein serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase activity, ubiquitin protein ligase binding, fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling pathway, muscle cell proliferation, and many others; besides, they may be involved in FoxO, mTOR, Toll-like receptor, Ras, MAPK, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways and signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells. Three hub genes (MAPK1, GRB2, and IGF1R) were significantly upregulated in hypertrophic scars ( P<0.05). Conclusions:hsa-miR-422a is significantly downregulated in the hypertrophic scars and may target hub genes such as MAPK1 in ceRNA networks, ultimately modulating hypertrophic scar formation.