OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences in the gene expression profiles of the peripheral blood immune cells between liver and kidney transplantation recipients.

METHODSA dataset containing the gene expression profiles of 27 liver transplantation recipients and 25 kidney transplantation recipients (from GSE22229 and GSE28842, respectively) was downloaded from the GEO database. By combining gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and biological network analysis of the differentially expressed genes using Cytoscape software, we analyzed the core genes closely related to liver or kidney transplantations.

RESULTSGSEA identified 20 highly overlapping genes for liver transplantation and another 20 for kidney transplantation using leading edge analysis. Fourteen hub nodes (gene) for liver transplantation and 13 for kidney transplantation were identified by cytoscape software using interaction network analysis. Five core genes related to liver transplantation and 5 to kidney transplantation were obtained by integrating GSEA and biological network analysis.

CONCLUSIONControlling the transcription and translation of the genes of the peripheral blood immune cells is the main immune regulation mechanism in liver transplantation recipients, but in the recipients of kidney transplantation, the protein interaction network plays a more prominent role. Energy metabolism and functional regulation of the immune cells are closely related. The core genes in peripheral blood immune cells related to liver or kidney transplantation may play key roles in regulating immune functions.