Evaluation of expression levels of MicroRNA-148a-3p, and DRP1 and FIS1 genes in tumoral and healthy colon specimens of patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

Genetic and epigenetic changes have an inevitable effect on the incidence and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this regard, microRNA-148a and genes involved in the process of mitochondrial fission can play an important role. In the present study, changes in the expression levels of microRNA-148a and DRP1 and FIS1 genes in tumor samples of patients with CRC and marginal healthy tissue in same patients were investigated. Methods: Patients with CRC who were candidates for surgery were included in this study and a total of 47 tumor samples and healthy tissue were collected from the intestines of CRC patients during surgery. After total RNA extraction, genes and microRNA expression were measured by Real-time PCR and compared and analyzed between the study groups. Results: The level of relative expression of microRNA-148a in tumor tissues showed a significant decrease compared to healthy marginal tissues (p<0.01). Also, the expression of mitochondrial fission gene DRP1 in tumor samples increased significantly compared to marginal healthy samples and the expression of FIS1 gene as mitochondrial adapter of DRP1 decreased significantly (p<0.05).