Investigating molecular background of multiple sclerosis through multi-omics: linking via psychoneuroimmunology.

Abstract

This study performs a comprehensive in-silico multi-omic analysis to explore the genetic and molecular mechanisms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), highlighting its psychoneuroimmunology link to stress-related pathways. High-throughput data from the Gene Expression Omnibus focused on corpus callosum gene expression, a key region in MS pathology. Using GEO2R, significant differentially expressed genes in MS were identified, followed by pathway analysis through KEGG databases to uncover implicated biological pathways. Functional enrichment and network analyses via DAVID and Cytoscape highlighted core biological processes, focusing on heat shock proteins and immune signalling pathways. Additionally, genome-wide association study (GWAS) data identified MS-associated genetic loci, aiding in building a robust multi-omic profile. A protein-protein interaction network using STRING emphasized key stress protein interactions: DNAJB1, HSPA6, HSPB1, and HSPH1. This integrative study provides a detailed framework linking psychoneuroimmunological pathways to MS pathology, identifying potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers, enhancing the understanding of MS's complex aetiology, and paving the way for novel interventions in stress-related neurological disorders.