Identification of hub genes and gene modules associated with Behçet's disease by weighted gene co-expression network analysis of neutrophil transcriptome.

Abstract

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory condition with recurrent skin lesions, uveitis, and oral and genital ulcers. Neutrophils are important in the pathogenesis of BD, but their molecular mechanisms are unclear. We performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis on the transcriptome of neutrophils from 10 BD patients and 10 healthy controls to identify hub genes and gene modules associated with BD. We found eight co-expression modules with different biological functions. The turquoise module was involved in response to hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species, the blue module was involved in response to external stimulus and inflammatory response, and the brown module was involved in the type I interferon signalling pathway. We further identified hub genes and transcription factors in each module by using module membership and gene significance. Our results reveal novel gene modules and hub genes that are associated with neutrophil activation and dysfunction in BD, which could serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this disease.