Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis patients

Abstract

The group of heterogeneous disorders affecting the kidneys' structure and function is generally known as chronic kidney disease (CKD). In developed countries, most patients at the terminal CKD stage are treated with hemodialysis in order to increase their lifespan. Here, we used a microarray data set of patients with CKD, patients on hemodialysis, and healthy controls along with a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). We detected seven modules by using the WGCNA, and the blue, turquoise, and brown modules were highly enriched with differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Blue, turquoise, and brown module genes were the most significantly enriched in the gene ontology (GO) terms involved in oxidative phosphorylation, voltage-gated cation channel activity, and regulation of striated muscle cell differentiation, respectively. The brown module also included several GO terms involved in immunity. The turquoise module contained many genes that are known to cause neurological and heart diseases due to decreased expression. The brown module contained recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin κ J region (RBPJ) genes that are involved in vascular homeostasis and the survival of memory CD4-positive T cells. The decreased expression of RBPJ may be related to cardiovascular complications and susceptibility to infection. These findings contribute to a more complete understanding of the pathology of CKD and hemodialysis patients and complications including cardiovascular events and infectious diseases.