Genetic Variation in MiRNA Processing Machinery Genes and Susceptibility to Colorectal Cancer in the Iranian Population

Abstract

Background: We aimed to elucidate the potential correlation between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA machinery genes and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in an Iranian cohort.

Methods: We conducted a robust case-control study involving 507 participants, which included 213 patients diagnosed with CRC and 294 healthy controls at Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases in Tehran Province, Iran in 2018. The study focused on genotyping four specific SNPs, RAN (rs14035), GEMIN3 (rs197412), GEMIN4 (rs2740348), and Dicer (rs3742330), using advanced ARMS-PCR and Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR techniques.

Results: Notably, our investigation revealed the significant inverse association between the C/C genotype of rs197412 in the GEMIN3 gene and CRC risk (OR=0.54, 95% CI=0.33-0.87; P=0.0087). In stark contrast, the T/T genotype of rs14035 in the RAN gene was strongly associated with a heightened risk of developing CRC (OR=4.44, 95% CI=2.60-7.57, P<0.0001). Furthermore, we found that the G/G genotype of rs2740348 in GEMIN4 posed an increased risk for CRC (OR=2.9, 95% CI=1.44-5.85, P=0.0041) and it has a major effect on CRC risk in our population. The alleles and genotypes of rs3742330 in Dicer, however, did not exhibit a significant correlation with CRC.

Conclusion: Our study provides compelling evidence that SNPs within miRNA processing genes significantly contribute to susceptibility to CRC among the Iranian population. Our research not only contributes to the growing body of miRNA-related genetic studies but also opens avenues for population-specific risk assessment and personalized medicine approaches in cancer therapy.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Genetics; Single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

Fig. 1:

1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis of four single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping in GEMIN3 gene. Lane 1,3,5: mutant allele, lane2,4: wild type allele, lane 6: positive control, Lane7: Negative control, Lane8: DNA Ladder 100bp

Fig. 2:

1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis of four single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping in RAN gene. Lane 1: mutant allele (177bp), lane2,4,6: wild type allele (177bp), lane3,5: negative control, lane 7: positive control (177bp), lane8:100-bpDNALadder (ARMS-PCR was used)

Fig. 3:

1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis of four single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping of rs3742330 in DICER gene. Lane 1:AG Genotype, lane2:100-bpDNALadder (TETRA-ARMS-PCR technique was used

Fig. 4:

1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis of genotyping in rs2740348 in GEMIN4 gene. Lane 1,5,7: mutant allele, lane 2: negative control, lane 3: positive control, lane 4,6: wild type allele, lane8: 50-bp DNA ladder (ARMS-PCR technique was used)