In Silico Analysis of MicroRNA-mRNA Interaction as Potential Biomarker in Skeletal Muscle Aging

The loss of skeletal muscle mass and function during aging is associated with physical weakness and a higher risk of morbidity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for aging, and several miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of various age-related diseases, underlining the significance of integrating miRNA with mRNA targets. The objectives of this study are to screen out the potential miRNA–mRNA pair(s) as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for skeletal muscle aging. In this study, two miRNA and four mRNA datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Comprehensive in silico analyses were performed to identify novel miRNA–mRNA pair(s) critically involved in skeletal muscle aging. A total of three miRNAs were found to be downregulated in aged muscle (miR-664b-3p, miR-208a-3p, and miR-365a-3p). In the four mRNA datasets, three common differentially expressed mRNAs were identified, one of which was consistently upregulated CDKN1A. The identified three miRNAs are potential biomarkers of skeletal muscle aging. The miR-208a-3p targets the 3' UTR of CDKN1A transcript. The regulatory network of miR-208a-3p expression during aging involves single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the mature miRNA and its promoter/enhancers. This study established, for the first time, that miR-664b-3p, miR-208a-3p, and miR-365a-3p are potential biomarkers for skeletal muscle aging, but only miR-208a-3p can target CDKN1A. Therefore, miR-208a-3p–CDKN1A pair has the potential as a therapeutic agent for skeletal muscle aging.