Identification of key genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ovarian cancer using an integrated bioinformatics analysis

• Published in: Journal of ovarian research Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 30
• Main Authors: Zou, Juan, Li, Yukun, Liao, Nianchun, Liu, Jue, Zhang, Qunfeng, Luo, Min, Xiao, Jiao, Chen, Yanhua, Wang, Mengjie, Chen, Kexin, Zeng, Juan, Mo, Zhongcheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 28.02.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Bioinformatic analysis; Cancer; Cell Adhesion Molecules - genetics; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemokine CXCL11 - genetics; Computational Biology; Dendritic Cells; Disease Progression; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - genetics; Female; Ferroptosis - genetics; Genes; Genetic aspects; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; Interferon Regulatory Factors - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Methylation; N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Neutrophils; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 - genetics; OGN; Oncology, Experimental; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics; Ovarian Neoplasms - immunology; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - genetics; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - immunology; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - pathology; Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase; Prognosis; Prognostic marker; Protein-protein interactions; Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 2 - genetics; Receptors, FSH - genetics; Receptors, Interleukin - genetics; Receptors, Lysophosphatidic Acid - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; STAT1 Transcription Factor - genetics; Stein-Leventhal syndrome; Transcriptome; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - genetics; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Bioinformatic analysis; Prognostic marker; OGN; Ovarian cancer
• ISSN: 1757-2215; 1757-2215
• DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-00962-w

Accumulating evidence suggests a strong association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ovarian cancer (OC), but the potential molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we identified previously unrecognized genes that are significantly correlated with PCOS and OC via bioinformatics. Multiple bioinformatic analyses, such as differential expression analysis, univariate Cox analysis, functional and pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, survival analysis, and immune infiltration analysis, were utilized. We further evaluated the effect of OGN on FSHR expression via immunofluorescence. TCGA-OC, GSE140082 (for OC) and GSE34526 (for PCOS) datasets were downloaded. Twelve genes, including RNF144B, LPAR3, CRISPLD2, JCHAIN, OR7E14P, IL27RA, PTPRD, STAT1, NR4A1, OGN, GALNT6 and CXCL11, were identified as signature genes. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that OGN might represent a hub gene in the progression of PCOS and OC. Experimental analysis found that OGN could increase FSHR expression, indicating that OGN could regulate the hormonal response in PCOS and OC. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated that OGN function might be closely related to m6A and ferroptosis. Our study identified a 12-gene signature that might be involved in the prognostic significance of OC. Furthermore, the hub gene OGN represent a significant gene involved in OC and PCOS progression by regulating the hormonal response.