Computational Identification of Guillain-Barré Syndrome-Related Genes by an mRNA Gene Expression Profile and a Protein–Protein Interaction Network

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we used a computational method to identify Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) related genes based on (i) a gene expression profile, and (ii) the shortest path analysis in a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. MATERIALS AND METHODS: mRNA Microarray analyses were performed on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of four GBS patients and four age- and gender-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Totally 30 GBS-related genes were screened out, in which 20 were retrieved from PPI analysis of upregulated expressed genes and 23 were from downregulated expressed genes (13 overlap genes). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed, respectively. Results showed that there were some overlap GO terms and KEGG pathway terms in both upregulated and downregulated analysis, including positive regulation of macromolecule metabolic process, intracellular signaling cascade, cell surface receptor linked signal transduction, intracellular non-membrane-bounded organelle, non-membrane-bounded organelle, plasma membrane, ErbB signaling pathway, focal adhesion, neurotrophin signaling pathway and Wnt signaling pathway, which indicated these terms may play a critical role during GBS process. DISCUSSION: These results provided basic information about the genetic and molecular pathogenesis of GBS disease, which may improve the development of effective genetic strategies for GBS treatment in the future.