Expression of immune-related genes in peripheral blood leukocytes of postmenopausal osteoporosis patients
10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2090
- Author:
Tian Ning CHEN
1
Author Information
1. Graduate School of Ningxia Medical University
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Immune-related genes;
Peripheral blood leukocytes;
Postmenopausal osteoporosis;
RNA sequence
- From:
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research
2020;24(25):4033-4038
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Bones are currently considered as an immune organ. A variety of immune cells that originate from the bone marrow can interact with the cells of the skeletal system to jointly regulate bone metabolism. Explorations on the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis as well as treatment-related molecular targets and signal pathways can help prevention and treatment of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression profiles of immune-related genes in peripheral blood leukocytes of postmenopausal osteoporosis patients using RNA-Seq technology. METHODS: Forty female patients who had experienced menopause for 0 to 20 years and were hospitalized due to fractures were enrolled. They were divided into normal bone mass group (T >-1) and osteoporosis group (T <-2.5) by scanning with Lunar Prodigy dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer. Then, the total RNA of leukocytes in the peripheral blood samples from five patients of each group was extracted. Differentially expressed genes between two groups were detected by RNA-Seq technology followed by GO enrichment analysis. The immune-related genes were screened and analyzed by KEGG signal pathway. Peripheral blood samples from 20 patients of each group were collected and the results of KEGG PATHWAY bioinformatics analysis were verified by real-time PCR. The implementation of the study plan complied with the relevant ethical requirements of the Pudong New Area Gongli Hospital, Shanghai (approval No. 20170301). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the normal bone mass group, 187 genes were significantly changed in the osteoporosis group (fold change > 2), and 131 genes were up-regulated and 56 genes were down-regulated. We identified in total 29 differentially expressed immune-related genes including 25 up-regulated and 4 down-regulated ones. There was significant difference in expression between the osteoporosis and normal bone mass groups for genes, including KIR3DL1, KIR3DL2, KIR2DL4, KLRD1 and HSPA6 (P < 0.05). These differentially expressed genes are potentially important for the natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity by the KEGG pathway analysis. KIR3DL1, KIR3DL2, KIR2DL4, KLRD1 and HSPA6 may be closely related to the natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity during the occurrence of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
