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Lin Q, Cai B, Ke R, Chen L, Ni X, Liu H, Lin X, Wang B, Shan X. Integrative bioinformatics and experimental validation of hub genetic markers in acne vulgaris: Toward personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. J Cosmet Dermatol 2024; 23:1777-1799. [PMID: 38268224 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acne vulgaris is a widespread chronic inflammatory dermatological condition. The precise molecular and genetic mechanisms of its pathogenesis remain incompletely understood. This research synthesizes existing databases, targeting a comprehensive exploration of core genetic markers. METHODS Gene expression datasets (GSE6475, GSE108110, and GSE53795) were retrieved from the GEO. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma package. Enrichment analyses were conducted using GSVA for pathway assessment and clusterProfiler for GO and KEGG analyses. PPI networks and immune cell infiltration were analyzed using the STRING database and ssGSEA, respectively. We investigated the correlation between hub gene biomarkers and immune cell infiltration using Spearman's rank analysis. ROC curve analysis validated the hub genes' diagnostic accuracy. miRNet, TarBase v8.0, and ChEA3 identified miRNA/transcription factor-gene interactions, while DrugBank delineated drug-gene interactions. Experiments utilized HaCaT cells stimulated with Propionibacterium acnes, treated with retinoic acid and methotrexate, and evaluated using RT-qPCR, ELISA, western blot, lentiviral transduction, CCK-8, wound-healing, and transwell assays. RESULTS There were 104 genes with consistent differences across the three datasets of paired acne and normal skin. Functional analyses emphasized the significant enrichment of these DEGs in immune-related pathways. PPI network analysis pinpointed hub genes PTPRC, CXCL8, ITGB2, and MMP9 as central players in acne pathogenesis. Elevated levels of specific immune cell infiltration in acne lesions corroborated the inflammatory nature of the disease. ROC curve analysis identified the acne diagnostic potential of four hub genes. Key miRNAs, particularly hsa-mir-124-3p, and central transcription factors like TFEC were noted as significant regulators. In vitro validation using HaCaT cells confirmed the upregulation of hub genes following Propionibacterium acnes exposure, while CXCL8 knockdown reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, cell proliferation, and migration. DrugBank insights led to the exploration of retinoic acid and methotrexate, both of which mitigated gene expression upsurge and inflammatory mediator secretion. CONCLUSION This comprehensive study elucidated pivotal genes associated with acne pathogenesis, notably PTPRC, CXCL8, ITGB2, and MMP9. The findings underscore potential biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and the therapeutic potential of agents like retinoic acid and methotrexate. The congruence between bioinformatics and experimental validations suggests promising avenues for personalized acne treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Lin
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Beichen Cai
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Ruonan Ke
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xuejun Ni
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Hekun Liu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xinjian Lin
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Biao Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xiuying Shan
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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Xia YQ, Yang Y, Liu YY, Cheng JX, Liu Y, Li CH, Liu PF. DNA Methylation Analysis Reveals Potential Mechanism in Takifugu rubripes Against Cryptocaryon irritans Infection. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 26:288-305. [PMID: 38446292 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-024-10296-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Takifugu rubripes (T. rubripes) is a valuable commercial fish, and Cryptocaryon irritans (C. irritans) has a significant impact on its aquaculture productivity. DNA methylation is one of the earliest discovered ways of gene epigenetic modification and also an important form of modification, as well as an essential type of alteration that regulates gene expression, including immune response. To further explore the anti-infection mechanism of T. rubripes in inhibiting this disease, we determined genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in the gill of T. rubripes using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and combined with RNA sequence (RNA-seq). A total of 4659 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in the gene body and 1546 DMGs in the promoter between the infection and control group were identified. And we identified 2501 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 1100 upregulated and 1401 downregulated genes. After enrichment analysis, we identified DMGs and DEGs of immune-related pathways including MAPK, Wnt, ErbB, and VEGF signaling pathways, as well as node genes prkcb, myca, tp53, and map2k2a. Based on the RNA-Seq results, we plotted a network graph to demonstrate the relationship between immune pathways and functional related genes, in addition to gene methylation and expression levels. At the same time, we predicted the CpG island and transcription factor of four immune-related key genes prkcb and mapped the gene structure. These unique discoveries could be helpful in the understanding of C. irritans pathogenesis, and the candidate genes screened may serve as optimum methylation-based biomarkers that can be utilized for the correct diagnosis and therapy T. rubripes in the development of the ability to resist C. irritans infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qing Xia
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University), Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University), Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Yun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University), Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Xin Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University), Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University), Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Hua Li
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, People's Republic of China.
| | - Peng-Fei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University), Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China.
- College of Marine Technology and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian, 116023, People's Republic of China.
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Wu Y, Chen Y, Chen B, Wu W, Yang J. DNA methylation mediated genetic risk in severe acne in a young men population. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1196149. [PMID: 37554505 PMCID: PMC10405078 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1196149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects the pilosebaceous follicle and is influenced by heredity, hormones, inflammation, and the environment. At present, the recognized pathogenesis mainly includes four categories: excessive sebum secretion, excessive Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, excessive keratinization of sebaceous glands in hair follicles, and inflammatory mechanisms. Previous studies have found that DNA methylation is closely related to some chronic inflammatory skin diseases, and there is evidence that DNA methylation is controlled by genetic factors, making us want to know the relationship between DNA methylation, genetic variation and acne. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our previous study, we performed genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in peripheral blood samples from 44 patients with severe acne and 44 unaffected normal subjects, and identified 23 differentially methylated probes (DMPs). In this study, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with severe acne by genome-wide association analysis in these 88 samples. To test the association between SNPs and DMPs, we conducted DNA methylation quantitative trait loci (methQTL) analysis. Next, causal inference testing (CIT) was used to determine whether genetic variation influences DNA methylation, which impacts disease phenotypes. RESULT We found 38,269 SNPs associated with severe acne. By methQTL analysis, we obtained 24 SNP-CpG pairs that reached the threshold (FDR < 0.05), which included 7 unique CpGs and 22 unique methQTL SNPs. After CIT analysis, we found that 11 out of 24 pairs of SNP-CpG showed a weakened SNP effect after adjustment for methylation, indicating a methylation-mediated relationship between SNPs and severe acne. These 11 SNP-CpG pairs consist of four unique CpG sites and 11 SNPs, of which three CpG sites, cg03020863, cg20652636, and cg19964325, are located on the gene body of PDGFD, the intron of SH2D6, and the 5'UTR of the IL1R1 gene, respectively. CONCLUSION During this study, the DNA methylation of certain genes was found to be influenced by genetic factors and mediated the risk of severe acne in a young Chinese male population, providing a new perspective on the pathogenesis of severe acne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Yun Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Bo Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Wenjuan Wu
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Jiankang Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, China
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