The role of miRNA-4516 in regulating Bruton's tyrosine kinase expression and colorectal cancer progression in a sample of Iraqi population

Considering the second-highest global death rate, Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent form of cancer in women and the third most frequent cancer type in men. Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) is a soluble tyrosine kinase that plays essential functions in B cell maturation, development, and signaling. It has been discovered that BTK controls cell migration, survival, and proliferation in a variety of B-cell malignancies. The category of short non-coding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNAs) is involved in several biological processes, including the development and propagation of tumors. The current study was designed to measure the gene expression level of the BTK gene and miR-4516 in Iraqi CRC patients; 100 blood samples were collected, RNA extracted, converted into cDNA, and then expression levels were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences among the patients and the control with a P-value (=0.005) in the expression level of miR-4516, while the results of the BTK gene showed that there were no significant differences between the CRC patients and control groups of the current study. This study reveals that non-detectable levels of BTK secretion may be attributed to miR-4516 mediated suppression or due to BTK possessing a dual role in tumorigenesis, capable of either promoting tumor growth or inducing programmed cell death. Elevated levels of miR-4516 are believed to contribute to the development of CRC by regulating the expression of specific genes, including BTK, making it a promising target for both monitoring and therapeutic of the disease.