Construction and analysis of three networks of genes and microRNAs in adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is one of the most serious diseases that threaten human health. Numerous studies have investigated adenocarcinoma and have obtained a considerable amount of data regarding genes and microRNA (miRNA) in adenocarcinoma. However, studies have only focused on one or a small number of genes and miRNAs, and the data is stored in a scattered form, making it challenging to summarize and assess the associations between the genes and miRNAs. In the present study, three networks of genes and miRNAs in adenocarcinoma were focused on. This enabled the construction of networks of elements involved in adenocarcinoma and the analysis of these networks, rather than only discussing one gene. Transcription factors (TFs), miRNAs, and target and host genes of miRNAs in adenocarcinoma, and the regulatory associations between these elements were identified in the present study. These elements and associations were then used to construct three networks, which consisted of the differentially-expressed, associated and global networks. The similarities and differences between the three networks were compared and analyzed. In total, 3 notable TFs, consisting of TP53, phosphatase and tensin homolog and SMAD4, were identified in adenocarcinoma. These TFs were able to regulate the differentially-expressed genes and the majority of the differentially-expressed miRNAs. Certain important regulatory associations were also found in adenocarcinoma, in addition to self-regulating associations between TFs and miRNAs. The upstream and downstream elements of the differentially-expressed genes and miRNAs were recorded, which revealed the regulatory associations between genes and miRNAs. The present study clearly revealed components of the pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma and the regulatory associations between the elements in adenocarcinoma. The present study may aid the investigation of gene therapy in adenocarcinoma and provides a theoretical basis for studies of gene therapy methods as a treatment for adenocarcinoma.