加权基因共表达网络鉴定非酒精性脂肪肝核心基因

Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Iden-tifying Core Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Genes

非酒精性脂肪肝是指肝脏脂肪累计超过5%。据统计,非酒精性脂肪肝已成为世界范围内最常见的慢性肝脏疾病,影响全球25%成年人口。大约30%的非酒精性脂肪肝患者最终会发展到肝纤维化,肝硬化,肝癌。然而,目前尚未有有效的药物能逆转这一过程。加权基因共表达网络致力于计算每个模块与样本之间的关联性,并寻找网络中的核心基因,为疾病治疗筛选候补靶点。本研究中,我们通过分析57例患者肝脏转录组测序数据,构建了非酒精性脂肪肝共表达基因网络。筛选出与非酒精性脂肪肝高度相关的模块,并对模块内基因进行KEGG富集分析及蛋白互作网络构建,鉴定到30个调控非酒精性脂肪肝进展的关键基因。这30个核心基因中,TGF-β推动了非酒精性脂肪肝向肝癌进展,可能是治疗非酒精性脂肪肝潜在的靶点,为开发非酒精性脂肪肝治疗新靶点提供了理论基础。

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as an accumulation of more than 5% fat in the liver. According to statistics, NAFLD has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting 25% of the adult population worldwide. Approximately 30% of people with NAFLD will eventually progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, there are no effective drugs that can reverse this process. Weighted gene co-expression networks work to calculate the association between each module and the sample, and to find core genes in the network to screen candidate targets for disease treatment. In this study, we constructed a co-expression gene network for NAFLD by analysing liver transcriptome sequencing data from 57 patients. Modules highly asso-ciated with NAFLD were screened, and 30 key genes regulating NAFLD progression were identified by KEGG enrichment analysis and protein interaction network construction of genes within the modules. Among these 30 core genes, TGF-β drives the progression of NAFLD to hepatocellular car-cinoma and may be a potential target for the treatment of NAFLD, providing a theoretical basis for the development of new targets for the treatment of NAFLD.