Identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co‐expression network

Abstract Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is an age‐related orthopedic degenerative disease characterized by recurrent episodes of lower back pain, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. This study aimed to identify key biomarkers of IVDD and its causes. Methods We acqu...

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Main Authors: Daqian Zhou, Tao Liu, Yongliang Mei, Jiale Lv, Kang Cheng, Weiye Cai, Silong Gao, Daru Guo, Xianping Xie, Zongchao Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:JOR Spine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70004
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author Daqian Zhou
Tao Liu
Yongliang Mei
Jiale Lv
Kang Cheng
Weiye Cai
Silong Gao
Daru Guo
Xianping Xie
Zongchao Liu
author_facet Daqian Zhou
Tao Liu
Yongliang Mei
Jiale Lv
Kang Cheng
Weiye Cai
Silong Gao
Daru Guo
Xianping Xie
Zongchao Liu
author_sort Daqian Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is an age‐related orthopedic degenerative disease characterized by recurrent episodes of lower back pain, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. This study aimed to identify key biomarkers of IVDD and its causes. Methods We acquired three gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, GSE56081, GSE124272, and GSE153761, and used limma fast differential analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal and IVDD samples after removing batch effects. We applied weighted gene co‐expression network (WGCNA) to identify the key modular genes in GSE124272 and intersected these with DEGs. Next, A protein–protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed, and Cytoscape was used to identify the Top 10 hub genes. Functional enrichment analyses were performed using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Three key genes were validated using Western Blot (WB) and qRT‐PCR. Additionally, we predicted miRNAs involved in hub gene co‐regulation and analyzed miRNA microarray data from GSE116726 to identify four differentially expressed miRNAs. Results We identified 10 hub genes using bioinformatics analysis, gene function enrichment analysis revealed that they were primarily enriched in pathways, such as the TNF signaling pathway. We chose JUNB, SOCS3, and CEBPB as hub genes and used WB and qRT‐PCR to confirm their expression. All three genes were overexpressed in the IVDD model group compared to the control group. Furthermore, we identified four miRNAs involved in the co‐regulation of the hub genes using miRNet prediction: mir‐191‐5p, mir‐20a‐5p, mir‐155‐5p, and mir‐124‐3p. Using limma difference analysis, we discovered that mir‐191‐5p, mir‐20a‐5p, and mir‐155‐5p were all down‐regulated and expressed in IVDD samples, but mir‐124‐3p showed no significant change. Conclusion JUNB, SOCS3, and CEBPB were identified as key genes in IVDD, regulated by specific miRNAs, providing potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and therapeutic targets.
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spelling doaj-art-54d9f6bbe82f407d9b52ace2c6064ce22024-12-26T11:06:34ZengWileyJOR Spine2572-11432024-12-0174n/an/a10.1002/jsp2.70004Identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co‐expression networkDaqian Zhou0Tao Liu1Yongliang Mei2Jiale Lv3Kang Cheng4Weiye Cai5Silong Gao6Daru Guo7Xianping Xie8Zongchao Liu9Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Southwest Medical University Luzhou Sichuan Province ChinaAbstract Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is an age‐related orthopedic degenerative disease characterized by recurrent episodes of lower back pain, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. This study aimed to identify key biomarkers of IVDD and its causes. Methods We acquired three gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, GSE56081, GSE124272, and GSE153761, and used limma fast differential analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal and IVDD samples after removing batch effects. We applied weighted gene co‐expression network (WGCNA) to identify the key modular genes in GSE124272 and intersected these with DEGs. Next, A protein–protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed, and Cytoscape was used to identify the Top 10 hub genes. Functional enrichment analyses were performed using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Three key genes were validated using Western Blot (WB) and qRT‐PCR. Additionally, we predicted miRNAs involved in hub gene co‐regulation and analyzed miRNA microarray data from GSE116726 to identify four differentially expressed miRNAs. Results We identified 10 hub genes using bioinformatics analysis, gene function enrichment analysis revealed that they were primarily enriched in pathways, such as the TNF signaling pathway. We chose JUNB, SOCS3, and CEBPB as hub genes and used WB and qRT‐PCR to confirm their expression. All three genes were overexpressed in the IVDD model group compared to the control group. Furthermore, we identified four miRNAs involved in the co‐regulation of the hub genes using miRNet prediction: mir‐191‐5p, mir‐20a‐5p, mir‐155‐5p, and mir‐124‐3p. Using limma difference analysis, we discovered that mir‐191‐5p, mir‐20a‐5p, and mir‐155‐5p were all down‐regulated and expressed in IVDD samples, but mir‐124‐3p showed no significant change. Conclusion JUNB, SOCS3, and CEBPB were identified as key genes in IVDD, regulated by specific miRNAs, providing potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and therapeutic targets.https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70004biomarkersDEGsgene expression omnibusintervertebral disc degenerationWGCNA
spellingShingle Daqian Zhou
Tao Liu
Yongliang Mei
Jiale Lv
Kang Cheng
Weiye Cai
Silong Gao
Daru Guo
Xianping Xie
Zongchao Liu
Identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co‐expression network
JOR Spine
biomarkers
DEGs
gene expression omnibus
intervertebral disc degeneration
WGCNA
title Identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co‐expression network
title_full Identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co‐expression network
title_fullStr Identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co‐expression network
title_full_unstemmed Identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co‐expression network
title_short Identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co‐expression network
title_sort identifying critical modules and biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration by using weighted gene co expression network
topic biomarkers
DEGs
gene expression omnibus
intervertebral disc degeneration
WGCNA
url https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70004
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