Analysis of key genes and their functions in placental tissue of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Reproductive biology and endocrinology Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 104
• Main Authors: Wang, Yuxia, Yu, Haifeng, Liu, Fangmei, Song, Xiue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 29.11.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Antigens; Biochemistry; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Chemokine CXCL10 - genetics; Chemokine CXCL10 - metabolism; Chemokine CXCL9 - genetics; Chemokine CXCL9 - metabolism; Chemokines; CXCL10 protein; Datasets; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes, Gestational - genetics; Diabetes, Gestational - metabolism; Differentially expressed genes; DNA binding proteins; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling - methods; Gene Regulatory Networks; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genomes; Gestational diabetes; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Histocompatibility antigen HLA; HLA antigens; HLA Antigens - genetics; HLA Antigens - metabolism; Humans; Immune response; Insulin; Integrated regulatory network; Leukocyte Common Antigens - genetics; Leukocyte Common Antigens - metabolism; Lymphocytes; Medical research; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; Ontology; Pathogenesis; Phenols (Class of compounds); Phosphatases; Placenta; Placenta - metabolism; Pregnancy; Protein binding; Protein interaction; Protein Interaction Maps - genetics; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - genetics; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - metabolism; Protein-protein interaction network; Protein-protein interactions; Protein-tyrosine-phosphatase; Proteins; Thioredoxin; Thioredoxins; Thyroid diseases; Transcription (Genetics); Transcription factors; Type 2 diabetes; Tyrosine; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Differentially expressed genes; Protein-protein interaction network; Transcription factors; Integrated regulatory network
• DOI: 10.1186/s12958-019-0546-z
• ISSN: 1477-7827

This study was aimed at screening out the potential key genes and pathways associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The GSE70493 dataset used for this study was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the placental tissue of women with GDM in relation to the control tissue samples were identified and submitted to protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and subnetwork module mining. Functional enrichment analyses of the PPI network and subnetworks were subsequently carried out. Finally, the integrated miRNA-transcription factor (TF)-DEG regulatory network was analyzed. In total, 238 DEGs were identified, of which 162 were upregulated and 76 were downregulated. Through PPI network construction, 108 nodes and 278 gene pairs were obtained, from which chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9), CXCL10, protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type C (PTPRC), and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) were screened out as hub genes. Moreover, genes associated with the immune-related pathway and immune responses were found to be significantly enriched in the process of GDM. Finally, miRNAs and TFs that target the DEGs were predicted. Four candidate genes (viz., CXCL9, CXCL10, PTPRC, and HLA) are closely related to GDM. miR-223-3p, miR-520, and thioredoxin-binding protein may play important roles in the pathogenesis of this disease.