Identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools.

Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that causes severe pulmonary infections. Recent studies indicate that ferroptosis may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of M. abscessus pulmonary disease. We obtained gene expression microarray data from the Gene Expres...

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Main Authors: Jiahua Qian, Chenghua Lu, Kai Meng, Zhihong Xu, Honghao Xue, Weijie Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314114
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author Jiahua Qian
Chenghua Lu
Kai Meng
Zhihong Xu
Honghao Xue
Weijie Yang
author_facet Jiahua Qian
Chenghua Lu
Kai Meng
Zhihong Xu
Honghao Xue
Weijie Yang
author_sort Jiahua Qian
collection DOAJ
description Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that causes severe pulmonary infections. Recent studies indicate that ferroptosis may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of M. abscessus pulmonary disease. We obtained gene expression microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, focusing on THP-1-derived macrophages infected with M. abscessus and uninfected controls. Differentially expressed genes related to ferroptosis were identified through weighted gene co-expression network analysis and the "limma" package, followed by gene set variation analysis and gene set enrichment analysis for enrichment assessment. To explore regulatory network relationships among hub genes, we constructed RBP-mRNA, ceRNA, and TF-mRNA networks. Additionally, a protein-protein interaction network was built, and functional enrichment analyses were conducted for the hub genes. The diagnostic value of these genes was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Six differentially expressed genes associated with ferroptosis were identified in M. abscessus infection. The receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that these genes had excellent predictive value for the infection. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these genes were involved in immune responses, inflammation, cellular metabolism, cell death, and apoptosis. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment in pathways related to apoptosis, inflammation, and hypoxia. The RBP-mRNA network highlighted significant interactions between hub genes and key RNA-binding proteins, while the ceRNA network predicted that miRNAs and lncRNAs regulate ferroptosis-related genes NACC2 and ITPKB. Furthermore, interactions between the hub gene HSD3B7 and transcription factors LMNB1 and ASCL1 may promote ferroptosis in macrophages by influencing iron metabolism and reactive oxygen species production, contributing to the M. abscessus infection process. Our findings identified biomarkers linked to ferroptosis in M. abscessus infection, providing new insights into its pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-cdc564dcc03842509481647644b795a82025-01-17T05:31:20ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031411410.1371/journal.pone.0314114Identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools.Jiahua QianChenghua LuKai MengZhihong XuHonghao XueWeijie YangMycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that causes severe pulmonary infections. Recent studies indicate that ferroptosis may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of M. abscessus pulmonary disease. We obtained gene expression microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, focusing on THP-1-derived macrophages infected with M. abscessus and uninfected controls. Differentially expressed genes related to ferroptosis were identified through weighted gene co-expression network analysis and the "limma" package, followed by gene set variation analysis and gene set enrichment analysis for enrichment assessment. To explore regulatory network relationships among hub genes, we constructed RBP-mRNA, ceRNA, and TF-mRNA networks. Additionally, a protein-protein interaction network was built, and functional enrichment analyses were conducted for the hub genes. The diagnostic value of these genes was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Six differentially expressed genes associated with ferroptosis were identified in M. abscessus infection. The receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that these genes had excellent predictive value for the infection. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these genes were involved in immune responses, inflammation, cellular metabolism, cell death, and apoptosis. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment in pathways related to apoptosis, inflammation, and hypoxia. The RBP-mRNA network highlighted significant interactions between hub genes and key RNA-binding proteins, while the ceRNA network predicted that miRNAs and lncRNAs regulate ferroptosis-related genes NACC2 and ITPKB. Furthermore, interactions between the hub gene HSD3B7 and transcription factors LMNB1 and ASCL1 may promote ferroptosis in macrophages by influencing iron metabolism and reactive oxygen species production, contributing to the M. abscessus infection process. Our findings identified biomarkers linked to ferroptosis in M. abscessus infection, providing new insights into its pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314114
spellingShingle Jiahua Qian
Chenghua Lu
Kai Meng
Zhihong Xu
Honghao Xue
Weijie Yang
Identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools.
PLoS ONE
title Identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools.
title_full Identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools.
title_fullStr Identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools.
title_full_unstemmed Identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools.
title_short Identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with Mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools.
title_sort identification of biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in macrophages infected with mycobacterium abscessus using bioinformatic tools
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314114
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