Association of miRNA targetome variants in LAMC1 and GNB3 genes with colorectal cancer and obesity

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common obesity-associated cancers. Inflammation is also considered the most important factor between obesity and CRC. This study aimed to examine miRNAs binding sites variants on inflammatory genes identified using bioinformatics and systematic approach on clinical samples that were collected from CRC patients and controls.

Methods: The candidate variants related to CRC inflammatory genes were obtained from genome-wide association studies and their population-specific haplotypes. The variants were analyzed according to their genomic position on the miRNA targetome. Targetome variants in inflammation-related genes were selected for genetic association study by TaqMan genotyping assay.

Results: The GG genotype of rs7473 decreased the risk of obesity (p < 0.05). Heterozygous genotype (GA) of rs1547715 decreased the risk of CRC (p < 0.05). In the rs7473/rs1547715 genotype and haplotype, the frequencies of AA/GA and GG/AA lessened in CRC and obesity, respectively (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The variants of rs7473 and rs1547715 were associated with obesity and CRC, respectively. The above-mentioned associations could be made based on the interactions of these variants with miRNAs.