Identification of differential genes in systemic sclerosis and prediction of traditional Chinese medicine
10.3969/j.issn.1000-484X.2025.01.016
- VernacularTitle:系统性硬化病差异基因识别及中药预测研究
- Author:
Shuang FENG
1
;
Yangfang TAI
;
Shengxiao ZHANG
;
Peifeng HE
;
Chaoyue ZHENG
;
Lingjing CHENG
;
Teng KONG
;
Xiangfei SUN
;
Qi YU
;
Xuechun LU
Author Information
1. 山西医科大学人文社会科学学院,太原 030600
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Systemic sclerosis;
Differentially expressed genes;
Bioinformatics;
Chinese medicine
- From:
Chinese Journal of Immunology
2025;41(1):107-115,中插1-中插2
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:The differentially expressed genes(DEGs)and activated signaling pathways in systemic sclerosis(SSc)were screened by bioinformatics methods,and Chinese medicines for potential treatment of SSc were explored,providing a new theoretical basis for the study of SSc and the screening of potential markers.Methods:The data sets GSE58095,GSE130953,GSE33463 and GSE58613 were selected from GEO database and divided into skin group and peripheral blood group according to the sample source.The DEGs of SSc patients was analyzed by R language,and the Wayne diagram was drawn to take the intersection of the two groups.Metascape was used for GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis,and STRING and Cytoscape were used for protein interaction network analysis to find key pathways and hub genes.The core genes were mapped to the medical on-tology information retrieval platform,and related Chinese medicines for SSc treatment were screened.The effective components of Chi-nese medicines were obtained through TCMSP and HERB databases,and the target letters of active ingredients were obtained through swiss database.The"drug-active ingredient-target"network was constructed by Cytoscape.Results:Total 218 DEGs were identified from the skin group of patients with SSc,and 283 DEGs were screened from peripheral blood of patients with SSc.Among them,there were 7 DEGs co-upregulated in skin and peripheral blood,namely ISG15,LGALS3BP,BST2,C1QB,IFI27,CEACAM1 and FBP1.CAMK2N1 was up-regulated in skin but down-regulated in peripheral blood,ARG1 was down-regulated in skin but up-regulated in pe-ripheral blood.GO and KEGG analysis of SSc DEGs showed that these genes were significantly enriched in inflammatory response,he-moglobin complex,immune receptor activity and extracellular matrix.The results of protein interaction network suggest that more than 10 genes such as COL1A1,CTGF12,IL1B,IFNG and JUN may be potential markers of SSc and core genes of therapeutic targets.The potential Chinese medicines screened for SSc treatment include ginseng,sanguisorba,convolvula,wolfberry,safflower,etc.The main components of these herbs were β-sitosterol,quercetin,kaempferol,stigmasterol,luteolin,sitosterol,Spinasterol,and the target were AKR1B1,AR,CYP1B1,XDH,etc.Conclusion:This study uses bioinformatics to screen out core genes that may be potential markers and therapeutic targets for SSc,which is expected to be a new target for the early diagnosis and mechanism research of SSc.Meanwhile,the mapped Chinese medicine and its effective components can provide ideas for the research and development of Chinese medicine compounds for the treatment of SSc.