EXPLORATION OF KEY GENES AND UNDERLYING MECHANISMS IN HEMODIALYSIS AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE BASED ON MICROARRAY ANALYSIS

Abstract

Background: The key genes and underlying mechanisms in hemodialysis (HD) and cardiovascular diseases are unclear. This study was undertaken to clarify the genes and mechanisms. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HD vs. control, and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) vs. control groups were identified. DEGs common in both comparisons were also identified. A series of analyses of the shared DEGs included enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The key genes were screened and then verified in another dataset. Finally, the regulatory networks of the key microRNA/transcription factor (miRNA/TF) gene were constructed. Results: A total of 5,878 and 1,922 DEGs were identified in the HD vs. control and AMI vs. control groups, respectively.  Of these DEGs, 430 were present in both groups. PPI and WGCNA analyses identified 18 overlapping genes as key genes: AREG, BCL2A1, CD33, CD83, CXCL2, EGR3, ENC1, EREG, FOS, FOSB, GADD45B, HBEGF, IER3, KLF4, NLRP3, NR4A2, PPP1R15A, and S100A12. In the regulatory networks of the key miRNA/TF genes, primarily enriched genes included those associated with ErbB, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt Aktsignaling pathways. These key genes were verified using the GSE60993 dataset. Conclusion: The 18 genes identified in this study could be important in the development of cardiovascular disease in HD patients.