miRNA‑mRNA network contributes to HBV‑related hepatocellular carcinoma via immune infiltration induced by GRB2

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a critical causative factor in the tumorigenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve a critical role in the process of viral infection. However, there has been insufficient evaluation of HBV‑associated miRNA‑mRNA regulatory networks in HCC. The differential expression levels of miRNAs were compared in HBV‑associated HCC tumor and normal tissues using the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The present study evaluated potential target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs using protein‑protein interaction network, hub gene, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, gene set enrichment and immune infiltration analysis. A total of five miRNAs and seven target genes were identified in the HBV‑associated miRNA‑mRNA network. miRNA‑93 could positively regulate the growth factor receptor bound protein 2 (GRB2) gene, while there was a positive correlation between GRB2 and cancer immune infiltrate function in Tumor Immune Estimation Resource. Collectively, the present study investigated the miRNA‑mRNA regulatory network in HCC with HBV infection and showed that miRNA‑93 positively regulated immune infiltration‑related GRB2. Restoring GRB2 may be a candidate strategy for the treatment of HBV‑related HCC.