Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2026, Vol. 64 ›› Issue (1): 74-87.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2024.1056

• Preclinical Medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Identification of potential key autophagy- and ferroptosis-related genes in asthma based on bioinformatics analysis

ZHANG Qiuping1,2, ZHU Huizhi3, LYU Chuan1, XIA Yongqi1, ZHANG Xiu1   

  1. 1. The First Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China;
    2. Department of Respiratory(Geriatrics), Shuguang Anhui Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China;
    3. Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China
  • Published:2026-01-27

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Abstract: Objective To identify the common asthma genes involved in autophagy and ferroptosis processes using bioinformatics analysis methods. Methods The asthma-related GSE74986 dataset were obtained from the Gene Expre-ssion Omnibus(GEO)database and analyzed using the GEO2R web tool. The differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were screened by setting the criteria of |log2 FC| ≥ 1 and a corrected P-value <0.05. Ferroptosis- and autophagy-related DEGs were intersected with Venn diagrams. Hub genes were further identified with functional and pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network analysis, and algorithms in Cytoscape software, followed by the construction of a transcription factor-miRNA-hub gene interaction network. Hub genes were subjected to immune cell infiltration analysis in asthmatic patients. In addition, the diagnostic value of hub genes was assessed with receiver opera-ting characteristic(ROC)curves analyses. Animal experiments were conducted to validate hub genes. Results A total of 105 autophagy-related DEGs and 37 ferroptosis-related DEGs were identified, which were involved in autophagy-animal, PI3K-Akt pathway, ferroptosis, and PPAR pathway. Ten hub genes were yielded, including HSPA8, NPM1, HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPA1, HSPA5, EEF1A1, G3BP1, TFRC, GABARAPL1, and XBP1 targeting a total of 61 miRNAs and 17 TFs. Immune cell infiltration analysis showed that these hub genes were closely related to macrophages M0, activated NK cells, and macrophages M1. ROC curve analyses indicated the high diagnostic value of the hub genes for asthma. Animal experiments confirmed that the protein expression levels of HSPA8, NPM1, HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPA1, and HSPA5 in the lung tissue of the model group were significantly lower than those in the normal group. Conclusion The screened hub genes,including HSPA8, NPM1, HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPA1, HSPA5, EEF1A1, G3BP1, TFRC, GABARAPL1, and XBP1, may be potential therapeutic targets for asthma.

Key words: Asthma, Gene Expression Omnibus database, Ferroptosis, Autophagy, Bioinformatics

CLC Number: 

  • R574
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