Identification of immune-related biomarkers and construction of regulatory network in patients with atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: More and more evidence has established the crucial roles of the innate and adaptive immune systems in driving atherosclerosis-associated chronic inflammation in arterial blood vessels. Thus, the goal of this research was to determine immune-related biomarkers in atherosclerosis. METHODS: In this study, we conducted analysis on the mRNA expression profile of atherosclerosis obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between atherosclerosis and control samples and immune-related genes (IRGs) were intersected to obtain differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs). The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was created by STRING database and hub genes were identified by the MCODE plug-in. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was executed to verify the diagnostic value of the hub genes, and microRNA (miRNA)-gene-transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks were used to explain the regulatory mechanism of hub genes in atherosclerosis. Finally, qRT-PCR was performed to identify the mRNA levels of the target genes. RESULTS: A total of 199 overlapping genes were screened out as DEIRGs by intersecting the DEGs and IRGs. Then, 6 hub genes with high diagnostic value (IFIH1, IFIT1, IFIT2, IFIT3, ISG15 and OAS3) were identified via PPI network and ROC curve. Finally, miRNA-gene-TF networks revealed the regulatory mechanism of diagnostic genes.We used the carotid artery of AS patients and normal human carotid artery plaque samples for qRT-PCR verification, and the results showed that the hub gene had the same trend. CONCLUSION: Our study identified IFIH1, IFIT1, IFIT2, IFIT3, ISG15 and OAS3 as immune-related hub genes of atherosclerosis. These genes may serve as potential therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis patients.