AUTHOR=Zhang Pingna , Geng Yunling , Tang Jingyi , Cao Zijing , Xiang Xiaojun , Yang Kezhen , Chen Hongbo 

TITLE=Identification of biomarkers related to immune and inflammation in membranous nephropathy: comprehensive bioinformatic analysis and validation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1252347

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1252347

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune glomerular disease that is predominantly mediated by immune complex deposition and complement activation. The aim of this study was to identify key biomarkers of MN and investigate their association with immune-related mechanisms, inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and chemokine receptors (CCRs).</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>MN cohort microarray expression data were downloaded from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MN were identified, and hub genes were determined using a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The relationships between immune-related hub genes, immune cells, CCRs, and inflammatory cytokines were examined using immune infiltration analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Finally, the immune-related hub genes in MN were validated using ELISA.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>In total, 501 DEGs were identified. Enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of immune- and cytokine-related pathways in MN progression. Using WGCNA and immune infiltration analysis, 2 immune-related hub genes (<italic>CYBB</italic> and <italic>CSF1R</italic>) were identified. These genes exhibited significant correlations with a wide range of immune cells and were found to participate in B cell/T cell receptor and chemokine signaling pathways. In addition, the expressions of 2 immune-related hub genes were positively correlated with the expression of <italic>CCR1</italic>, <italic>CX3CR1</italic>, <italic>IL1B</italic>, <italic>CCL4</italic>, <italic>TNF</italic>, and <italic>CCR2</italic>.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Our study identified <italic>CSF1</italic> and <italic>CYBB</italic> as immune-related hub genes that potentially influence the expression of CCRs and pro-inflammatory cytokines (<italic>CCR1</italic>, <italic>CX3CR1</italic>, <italic>IL1B</italic>, <italic>CCL4</italic>, <italic>TNF</italic>, and <italic>CCR2</italic>). <italic>CSF1</italic> and <italic>CYBB</italic> may be potential biomarkers for MN progression, providing a perspective for diagnostic and immunotherapeutic targets of MN.</p></sec>