There is mounting clinical evidence that an increase in obesity is linked to an increase in cancer incidence and mortality. Although studies have shown a link between obesity and colon cancer, the particular mechanism of the interaction between obesity and colon cancer in females remains unknown. The goal of this work is to use bioinformatics to elucidate the genetic link between obesity and colon cancer in females and to investigate probable molecular mechanisms.
GSE44076 and GSE199063 microarray datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. In the two microarray datasets and healthy controls, the online tool GEO2R was utilized to investigate the differential genes between obesity and colon cancer. The differential genes (DEGs) identified in the two investigations were combined. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment studies were performed on the DEGs. The STRING database and Cytoscape software were then used to build protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks to discover hub genes. NetworkAnalyst was also used to build networks of target microRNAs (miRNAs) and hub genes, as well as networks of transcriptions.
Between the two datasets, 146 DEGs were shared. The DEGs are primarily enriched in inflammatory and immune-related pathways, according to GO analysis and KEGG. 14 hub genes were identified via PPI building using the Cytoscape software’s MCODE and CytoNCA plug-ins: TYROBP, CD44, BGN, FCGR3A, CD53, CXCR4, FN1, SPP1, IGF1, CCND1, MMP9, IL2RG, IL6 and CTGF. Key transcription factors for these hub genes include WRNIP1, ATF1, CBFB, and NR2F6. Key miRNAs for these hub genes include hsa-mir-1-3p, hsa-mir-26b-5p, hsa-mir-164a-5p and hsa-mir-9-5p.
Our research provides evidence that changed genes are shared by female patients with colon cancer and obesity. Through pathways connected to inflammation and the immune system, these genes play significant roles in the emergence of both diseases. We created a network between hub genes and miRNAs that target transcription factors, which may offer suggestions for future research in this area.