Differentially Expressed Genes in C-33A and CaSki Cells Overexpressing miR-124-3p, miR-23b-3p, or miR-218-5p Modulate Processes and Pathways Involved in Cervical Cancer Progression

Aberrant expression of oncomicroRNAs and tumor suppressor miRNAs (tsmiRs) contributes to the carcinogenesis and progression of cervical cancer (CC). miR-124-3p, miR-23b-3p, and miR-218-5p are tsmiRs that modulate oncogenes regulating cellular processes implicated in CC progression. This research aimed to explore transcriptomic changes in C-33A and CaSki cells following the overexpression of miR-124-3p, miR-23b-3p, and miR-218-5p, and to identify the biological processes (BPs) and pathways modulated by differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 100 nM of miR-124-3p, miR-23b-3p, and miR-218-5p mimetics were transfected into C-33A and CaSki cells, and transcriptome changes were analyzed using RNA-seq. The Galaxy and R-Studio platforms were employed to identify DEGs, while BPs and pathways regulated by DEGs were identified through the DAVID platform. Transcriptional changes revealed both differences and similarities between cell lines and miRNAs. In C-33A cells, miR-124-3p and miR-218 regulated direct and indirect targets involved in the cell cycle and apoptosis. In CaSki cells, apoptosis and viral carcinogenesis were regulated by genes modulated directly or indirectly by miR-124-3p and miR-23b-3p. These tsmiRs demonstrated synergistic activity, regulating multiple transcripts that modulate processes and pathways involved in CC progression, with or without HPV. These findings suggest that miR-124-3p, miR-23b-3p, and miR-218-5p may represent promising therapeutic alternatives for CC treatment.