Unveiling the Potential of Serum MiR-483-5p: A Promising Diagnostic and
Prognostic Biomarker in OLP and OSCC Patients by In silico Analysis of
Differential Gene Expression
Authors: Soltaninezhad Pouria , Arab Fatemeh , Mohtasham Nooshin , FakherBaheri Mohammadhossein , Kavishahi Nima Nikbin , Aghaee-Bakhtiari Seyed Hamid , Zare-Mahmoodabadi Reza , Pakfetrat Atessa , Taban Kiarash Izadi , Mohajertehran Farnaz 
Published: February 2024

Background::

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral lichen planus (OLP) are two separate
conditions affecting the mouth and result in varying clinical outcomes and levels of malignancy. Achieving
early diagnosis and effective therapy planning requires the identification of reliable diagnostic biomarkers for
these disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently received attention as powerful biomarkers for various illnesses,
including cancer. In particular, miR-483-5p is a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in various
cancers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of serum miR-483-5p in the diagnosis and prognosis
of OLP and OSCC patients by in silico analysis of differential gene expression.

Methods::

GSE23558 and GSE52130 data sets were selected, and differential gene expression analysis was performed
using microarray data from GSE52130 and GSE23558. The analysis focused on comparing OLP and
OSCC samples with normal samples. The genes intersected through the differential gene expression analysis
were then extracted to determine the overlapping genes among the upregulated or downregulated DEGs. The
downregulated genes among the DEGs were subsequently imported into the miRWalk database to search for
potential target genes of miRNA 483-5p that lacked validation. To gain insight into the biological pathways associated
with the DEGs, we conducted pathway analysis utilizing tools, such as Enrichr. Additionally, the cellular
components associated with these DEGs were investigated by analyzing the String database. On the other
hand, blood serum samples were collected from 35 OSCC patients, 34 OLP patients, and 34 healthy volunteers.
The expression level of miR-483-5p was determined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase
chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The Kruskal-Wallis test was utilized to investigate the considerable correlation.
Moreover, this study explored the prognostic value of miR-483-5p through its association with clinicopathological
parameters in OSCC patients.

Results::

The results showed that serum expression of miR-483-5p was considerably higher in OSCC patients
compared to OLP patients and healthy controls (p 0.0001) and that this difference was statistically significant.
Furthermore, elevated miR-483-5p expression was associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and
stage of tumor nodal metastasis in OSCC patients (p 0.001, p 0.038, and p 0.0001, respectively). In silico analysis
found 71 upregulated genes at the intersection of upregulated DEGs and 44 downregulated genes at the intersection
of downregulated DEGs, offering insight into the potential underlying mechanisms of miR-483-5p’s
engagement in OSCC and OLP. The majority of these DEGs were found to be involved in autophagy pathways,
but DEGs involved in the histidine metabolism pathway showed significant results. Most of these DEGs
were located in the extracellular region. After screening for downregulated genes that were invalidated, miRNA
483-5p had 7 target genes.

Conclusion::

This study demonstrates the potential of serum miR-483-5p as a promising diagnostic and
prognostic biomarker in OSCC and OLP patients. Its upregulation in OSCC patients and its association
with advanced tumor stage and potential metastasis suggest the involvement of miR-483-5p in critical signaling
pathways involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation, making it a reliable indicator
of disease progression. Nevertheless, additional experimental studies are essential to validate these findings
and establish a foundation for the advancement of targeted therapies and personalized treatment approaches.