Identifying common genes and immune infiltration characteristics between systemic sclerosis and atherosclerosis.

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q2 RHEUMATOLOGY

Clinical Rheumatology Pub Date : 2025-06-20 DOI:10.1007/s10067-025-07479-9

Yanqing Pan, Binbing Shi, Fangnan Zang, Yi Ji, Xiuli Zhang, Changxi Zhang, Qi Sun, Chenyang Li, Hong Zhu, Defeng Pan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Clinical and epidemiological studies suggest a notably higher incidence of atherosclerosis (AS) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, yet their shared molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this research was designed to investigate the shared pathogenic mechanisms underlying both SSc and AS.

Methods: SSc and AS datasets were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequently, enrichment analyses, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, coexpression analysis, and TF-mRNA-miRNA regulatory network construction were performed on these common DEGs. Finally, the hub genes were validated using external datasets. Additionally, immune cell infiltration in both SSc and AS was analyzed via the CIBERSORT algorithm, and the relationships between hub genes and immune cell infiltration were assessed.

Results: A total of 104 DEGs were identified, with 99 upregulated and 5 downregulated genes. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the pathogenic mechanisms of these genes are related to immune processes. Through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, three hub genes (ITGB2, CD163, and CCR5) were identified. Comparative analysis revealed marked upregulation of these genes in pathological specimens relative to controls, highlighting their diagnostic biomarker potential. Furthermore, immune profiling demonstrated macrophage and T lymphocyte predominance in disease microenvironments, implicating these immune populations in SSc and AS pathogenesis.

Conclusion: Our study revealed common biomarkers and immune-related pathways that may contribute to the pathogenesis of both SSc and AS. These findings suggest potential immunological mechanisms underlying the development of AS in patients with SSc, providing new insights into the pathological links between these two diseases. Key Points • ITGB2, CD163, and CCR5 may be new diagnostic biomarkers for SSc and AS. • Macrophages and T lymphocytes as key mediators in SSc and AS pathogenesis.

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系统性硬化症和动脉粥样硬化的共同基因和免疫浸润特征。

背景：临床和流行病学研究表明，系统性硬化症（SSc）患者的动脉粥样硬化（AS）发生率明显较高，但其共同的分子机制尚不清楚。因此，本研究旨在探讨SSc和AS的共同致病机制。方法：从Gene Expression Omnibus （GEO）数据库中获取SSc和AS数据集，鉴定共同差异表达基因（DEGs）。随后，对这些常见deg进行富集分析、蛋白-蛋白相互作用（PPI）网络分析、共表达分析和TF-mRNA-miRNA调控网络构建。最后，利用外部数据集对中心基因进行验证。此外，通过CIBERSORT算法分析SSc和AS的免疫细胞浸润，并评估枢纽基因与免疫细胞浸润的关系。结果：共鉴定出104个基因，其中99个基因上调，5个基因下调。功能富集分析表明，这些基因的致病机制与免疫过程有关。通过综合生物信息学分析，鉴定出三个枢纽基因（ITGB2、CD163和CCR5）。对比分析显示，与对照组相比，病理标本中这些基因明显上调，突出了它们的诊断生物标志物潜力。此外，免疫图谱显示巨噬细胞和T淋巴细胞在疾病微环境中占主导地位，暗示这些免疫群体参与了SSc和AS的发病机制。结论：我们的研究揭示了可能参与SSc和AS发病机制的共同生物标志物和免疫相关途径。这些发现提示了SSc患者AS发展的潜在免疫学机制，为这两种疾病之间的病理联系提供了新的见解。•ITGB2、CD163和CCR5可能是SSc和AS新的诊断生物标志物。•巨噬细胞和T淋巴细胞是SSc和as发病机制的关键介质。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical Rheumatology 医学-风湿病学

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

2.90%

发文量

441

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Clinical Rheumatology is an international English-language journal devoted to publishing original clinical investigation and research in the general field of rheumatology with accent on clinical aspects at postgraduate level. The journal succeeds Acta Rheumatologica Belgica, originally founded in 1945 as the official journal of the Belgian Rheumatology Society. Clinical Rheumatology aims to cover all modern trends in clinical and experimental research as well as the management and evaluation of diagnostic and treatment procedures connected with the inflammatory, immunologic, metabolic, genetic and degenerative soft and hard connective tissue diseases.