Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2024, Vol. 62 ›› Issue (5): 43-53.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2024.0079

• Precision medicine in chronic airway diseases—Clinical Research • Previous Articles    

Bioinformatics-based exploration of potential differential immune genes and immune infiltration signatures in bronchial asthma

SHI Shuochuan1*, ZENG Rong2*, ZHANG Jintao1, ZHANG Dong2, PAN Yun2, LIU Xiaofei1, XU Changjuan1, WANG Ying1, DONG Liang1,2   

  1. 1. Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China;
    2. Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
  • Published:2024-05-29

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Abstract: Objective To identify immunologically critical genes and immune cells that are differentially expressed during the development of asthma and to explore the correlation between them. Methods The asthma-related datasets and immune-related genes were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database(GEO)and Import database, respectively, and analyzed using R software to obtain differentially expressed immune-related genes(DE-IRGs)in GSE76262. The interactions between DE-IRGs were clarified in the STRING database. Key DE-IRGs were screened using the CytoHubba plugin in Cytoscape software and validated in GSE137268. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to assess the potential of critical DE-IRGs as biomarkers. The single-sample gene set enrichment analysis(ssGSEA)algorithm was used to examine the differential expression of 28 immune cells in asthmatic and healthy individuals. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the correlation between key immune genes and immune cells. Results Seventeen DE-IRGs were identified in GSE76262, and CCL22, CCR7, IL1R2, IL18R1, TNFAIP3, and VEGFA were identified as critical DE-IRGs in induced sputum from asthmatics with high diagnostic value, as screened by the PPI network and validated in GSE137268. In addition, the results of ssGSEA suggested a significant immune imbalance in asthmatics, with 11 types of immune cells significantly infiltrated in the induced sputum of asthmatics compared to healthy individuals. Meanwhile, CCL22, CCR7, IL1R2, IL18R1, VEGFA, and TNFAIP3 were positively correlated with infiltrated immune cells. Conclusion CCL22, CCR7, IL1R2, IL18R1, VEGFA, and TNFAIP3 serve as potential biomarkers of asthma and may modulate infiltration of immune cells in its pathogenesis.

Key words: Bronchial asthma, Immune-related genes, Biomarkers, Immune infiltration

CLC Number: 

  • R562.2
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