For example, the KEGG pathway “Pathways in cancer” (hsa05200, p = 2.312e − 07, Supplementary Fig. 2) was significantly altered in differentially expressed miRNAs between anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients and control subjects at baseline, with 15 miRNAs (hsa-miR-20a-5p, hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-20b-5p, hsa-miR-340-5p, hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-let-7d-5p, hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-27b-5p, hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-10a-5p, hsa-miR-301a-5p, hsa-miR-132-5p, hsa-miR-23b-5p) targeting 160 genes, including FZD7, BRAF, FGF12, FOS, GSK3B, PRKCA, STAT3, PDGFRA, FZD5, and E2F1. This evidence concerns the gene E2F1 and viral encephalitis.