Identification of Hub Genes in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Their Association with Lung Cancer by Bioinformatics Analysis

HIGHLIGHTS: What are the main findings? Identification of 1888 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), including 1105 upregulated and 783 downregulated genes. Discovery of 10 hub genes with high connectivity that may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IPF, with implications for potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. What is the implication of the main finding? The study sheds light on the genetic landscape of IPF, uncovering potential key players in its development and progression. These identified hub genes have relevance beyond IPF, being expressed in lung cancer and associated with various stages of cancer progression, suggesting a link between IPF and lung cancer that could pave the way for improved diagnostics and therapies. ABSTRACT: Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible disease with a high mortality rate worldwide. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of IPF have not yet been fully described. Moreover, lung cancer is a significant complication of IPF and is associated with increased mortality. Nevertheless, identifying common genes involved in developing IPF and its progression to lung cancer remains an unmet need. The present study aimed to identify hub genes related to the development of IPF by meta-analysis. In addition, we analyzed their expression and their relationship with patients’ progression in lung cancer. Method: Microarray datasets GSE24206, GSE21369, GSE110147, GSE72073, and GSE32539 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Next, we conducted a series of bioinformatics analysis to explore possible hub genes in IPF and evaluated the expression of hub genes in lung cancer and their relationship with the progression of different stages of cancer. Results: A total of 1888 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 1105 upregulated and 783 downregulated genes. The 10 hub genes that exhibited a high degree of connectivity from the PPI network were identified. Analysis of the KEGG pathways showed that hub genes correlate with pathways such as the ECM–receptor interaction. Finally, we found that these hub genes are expressed in lung cancer and are associated with the progression of different stages of lung cancer. Conclusions: Based on the integration of GEO microarray datasets, the present study identified DEGs and hub genes that could play an essential role in the pathogenesis of IPF and its association with the development of lung cancer in these patients, which could be considered potential diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the disease.