BIOINFORMATIC EVALUATION OF CD4+ T CELL GENE EXPRESSION IN DJ-1 KNOCKOUT MICE: IMPLICATIONS FOR ATHLETIC HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of DJ-1 gene knockout on the gene expression of CD4 Tconv cells in the spleens of mice and its implications for athletic health, using bioinformatics approaches. Methods: The study utilized microarray data (GSE173904) sourced from the GEO database. Differential gene expression analysis was performed using GEO2R. Following this, both GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of these differentially expressed genes were conducted via online tools. Additionally, a protein interaction network was constructed with the STRING database and visualized using Cytoscape software. Results: The analysis identified 274 differentially expressed genes, with 191 genes being upregulated and 93 downregulated in the absence of the DJ-1 gene. The most significant enrichments were observed in the calcium signaling and cAMP signaling pathways. Furthermore, the protein interaction network highlighted 39 core genes that may play critical roles in the mechanisms influenced by the DJ-1 deletion. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the absence of the DJ-1 gene leads to significant changes in gene expression in CD4 Tconv cells, impacting key signaling pathways that could influence immune function and potentially athletic performance. The results provide a foundation for future studies to explore how modulating these pathways might contribute to enhancing immune resilience and overall health in athletes. This study underscores the importance of genetic factors in immune system performance and their possible links to athletic health