LncRNA sequencing reveals an essential role for the lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network in penile squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is becoming increasingly common and posing a severe threat to men’s health, particularly in developing countries. The function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in PSCC progression remains mysterious. Therefore, we explored the significance of lncRNAs in the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in PSCC tumor progression. The 5 healthy and 6 tumor tissue samples were subjected to lncRNA sequencing. Using miRcode, LncBase, miRTarBase, miRWalk, and TargetScan, we constructed a ceRNA network of differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Our analysis resulted in a ceRNA network consisting of 4 lncRNAs, 18 miRNAs, and 38 mRNAs, whose upstream regulators, the lncRNAs MIR205HG, MIAT, HCP5, and PVT1, were all elevated in PSCC. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that cell proliferation-related genes TFAP2C, MKI67, and TP63, positively regulated by 4 lncRNAs, were considerably overexpressed in tumor tissues. Immune analysis revealed a significant upregulation in macrophage and exhausted T cell infiltration in PSCC. Our study identified a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network for PSCC, revealing possible molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of PSCC progression by key lncRNAs and their connections to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The ceRNA network provides a novel perspective for elucidating the pathogenesis of PSCC.