Aberrant expression of long non-coding RNA in thyroid neoplasms

Background. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in thyroid cancer are poorly investigated; no lncRNAs common and specific for the follicular and classical variants of papillary cancer, as well as no lncRNAs aberrantly expressed in benign nodules or other subtypes of thyroid cancer are established. The objective of the study is to determine long noncoding RNAs aberrantly expressed in follicular adenoma (FA), follicular carcinoma (FTC), follicular and classical variants of papillary carcinoma (PTC), anaplastic carcinoma (ATC). Methods. lncRNA expression was analyzed in dataset of Microarray (8 independent experiments available in GEO) and RNA-seq studies (PRJEB11591 and TCGA-THCA). In total, 246 samples of normal thyroid tissue, 26 FAs, 30 FTCs, 181 follicular variant PTCs, 481 classic variant PTCs and 49 ATCs were examined. In silico validation was performed. Potential biological functions were assessed by enrichment analysis of coexpressed genes. Results. LncRNAs differentially expressed in FA, FTC, follicular, and classical variants of PTC, and ATC are identified. There are 8 lncRNAs common for all investigated thyroid nodules, 22 common for PTC, 32 specific for classical PTC, 1 specific for follicular variant of PTC, and 177 specific for ATC. No lncRNA significantly differentially expressed in FTC compared to FA is identified. The previously described oncogenic and suppressor lncRNAs NR2F1-AS1, LINC00511, SLC26A4-AS1, CRNDE, RMST are detected in thyroid carcinomas for the first time. Identified lncRNA are putatively involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, endoderm formation, VEGF signaling pathway, WNT signaling pathway and cell polarity, cell cycle and mitosis. Conclusion. The general and specific patterns of lncRNA expression in benign and malignant thyroid nodules are established.

длинные некодирующие РНК, SLC26A4-AS1, TNRC6C-AS1, CRNDE, RMST, рак щитовидной железы, long non-coding RNA, SLC26A4-AS1, TNRC6C-AS1, CRNDE, RMST, follicular thyroid carcinomas, follicular adenoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, anaplastic thyroid cancer