摘要
BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis(UC)is an inflammatory bowel disease that is difficult to diagnose and treat.To date,the degree of inflammation in patients with UC has mainly been determined by measuring the levels of nonspecific indicators,such as C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate,but these indicators have an unsatisfactory specificity.In this study,we performed bioinformatics analysis using data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information-Gene Expression Omnibus(NCBI-GEO)databases and verified the selected core genes in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis.AIM To identify UC-related differentially expressed genes(DEGs)using a bioinformatics analysis and verify them in vivo and to identify novel biomarkers and the underlying mechanisms of UC.METHODS Two microarray datasets from the NCBI-GEO database were used,and DEGs between patients with UC and healthy controls were analyzed using GEO2R and Venn diagrams.We annotated these genes based on their functions and signaling pathways,and then protein-protein interactions(PPIs)were identified using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes.The data were further analyzed with Cytoscape software and the Molecular Complex Detection(MCODE)app.The core genes were selected and a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis was performed.Finally,colitis model mice were established by administering DSS,and the top three core genes were verified in colitis mice using real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).RESULTS One hundred and seventy-seven DEGs,118 upregulated and 59 downregulated,were initially identified from the GEO2R analysis and predominantly participated in inflammation-related pathways.Seven clusters with close interactions in UC formed:Seventeen core genes were upregulated[C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13(CXCL13),C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2(CXCR2),CXCL9,CXCL5,C-C motif chemokine ligand 18,interleukin 1 beta,matrix metallopeptidase 9,CXCL3,formyl peptide receptor 1,comple
基金
Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation“One Hundred Million”Talent Project Qihuang Scholar(to Li JX)
The National Key R&D Program of China during the 13th Five-Year Plan Period,No.2018YFC1705405
and The 66th China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2019M660575.
