Uncovering potential key genes associated with the pathogenesis of asthma: A microarray analysis of asthma-relevant tissues

Abstract

BackgroundThe present study aimed to discover more potential genes associated with the pathogenesis of asthma. MethodsThe microarray data of GSE67940 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in bronchial alveolar lavage cells from patients with mild-moderate asthma (notSA) and severe asthma (SA) compared with normal controls (NC), respectively. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were performed upon the identified up- and down-regulated DEGs. Besides, the gene association network based on the common up-regulated and down-regulated genes was generated and transcriptional regulatory pairs of overlapping DEGs in the PPI network were identified. ResultsA total of 104 DEGs (30 up- and 74 down-regulated genes) were identified in notSA vs. NC. Additionally, 2796 DEGs were screened out in SA vs. NC group, including 320 up-regulated DEGs, and 135 down-regulated DEGs. Specially, 41 overlapping DEGs were screened out in notSA vs. NC and SA vs. NC, including 16 common up-regulated genes and 25 common down-regulated genes. No pathways were enriched by the DEGs in notSA vs. NC. DEGs in SA vs. NC were associated with cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction. VEGFA was a hub protein in both the PPI networks of DEGs in notSA vs. NC and SA vs. NC. Gene association network showed that signalling pathways and cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction were involved in. The overlapping VEGFA, and IFRD1, and ZNF331 were regulated by more TFs. ConclusionGenes such as VEGFA, and IFRD1, and ZNF331 may be associated with pathogenesis of asthma.