A combinative analysis of gene expression profiles and microRNA expression profiles identifies critical genes and microRNAs in oral lichen planus

• A total of426 differentially expressed genes were obtained in OLP.
• A total of 467 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in OLP.
• miR-362 was revealed as a key miRNA targeting SRGAP2, VAMP4, LRRTM4 and KDM5C.
• DEGs were significantly enriched in olfactory transduction and ribosome pathways.

ObjectiveOral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease but aetiology and pathogenesis has not fully elucidated. To gain insight into the mechanism of OLP, bioinformatic analysis was performed in this study.DesignGSE38616 and GSE38615 were downloaded from GEO, including 7 cases of OLP and 7 healthy controls. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs (DEMs) between OLP and control were screened with package Limma of R. Potential regulatory miRNAs were screened via gene set enrichment analysis. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed for the DEGs. KEGG pathways for DEGs were revealed using Gene Set Analysis Toolkit V2.ResultsAfter DEGs and DEMs were obtained, potential regulatory miRNAs of the DEGs were revealed and only miR-362 was differentially expressed in OLP compared with DEMs. Four targets of miR-362 were SLIT-ROBO Rho GTPase activating protein 2 (SRGAP2), vesicle-associated membrane protein 4 (VAMP4), leucine rich repeat transmembrane neuronal 4 (LRRTM4) and lysine (K)-specific demethylase5C (KDM5C). Identified DEGs were significantly enriched in olfactory transduction and ribosome pathways.ConclusionmiR-362, targeting SRGAP2 and VAMP4, may be a potential risk miRNA to regulate OLP. The findings may provide potential biomarkers for diagnosis or treatment of the disease.