Transcriptome dysregulation in hepatoblastomas: the pivotal role of noncoding RNAs and detection of altered lipid metabolism

We report the application of the RNA sequencing technology for profiling gene expression alterations in hepatoblastomas. Comparing 14 hepatoblastomas to a group of control liver samples, a set of 1492 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was detected, both coding and non-coding. We describe the enrichment of specific biological processes related to up- and downregulated genes, and the disruption of metabolic pathways including lipids, amines, and nicotinamides. Finally, we disclose a robust ncRNA transcriptome perturbation, highlighting a new epigenetic player in the control of gene expression in hepatoblastomas. Comparative analysis of RNA sequencing data from 14 hepatoblastomas and 05 normal liver samples.

本研究报道了RNA测序技术（RNA sequencing technology）在肝母细胞瘤（hepatoblastoma）基因表达改变谱分析中的应用。通过对比14例肝母细胞瘤样本与一组对照肝脏样本，本研究共鉴定出1492个差异表达基因（differentially expressed genes, DEGs），涵盖编码基因与非编码基因两类。本研究分析了上调、下调差异基因所富集的特定生物学过程，以及脂质、胺类及烟酰胺类物质相关代谢通路的紊乱情况。最后，本研究揭示了显著的非编码RNA（non-coding RNA, ncRNA）转录组（transcriptome）扰动现象，并明确了一类调控肝母细胞瘤基因表达的新型表观遗传（epigenetic）调控因子。本研究对14例肝母细胞瘤与5例正常肝脏样本的RNA测序数据开展了比较分析。