1
|
Yan Q, Liu Z, Chen Y, Zhang X, Zheng W, Liu X, Huang H, Liu Q, Jiang Y, Zhan S, Huang X. ITGAM-macrophage modulation as a potential strategy for treating neutrophilic Asthma: insights from bioinformatics analysis and in vivo experiments. Apoptosis 2024; 29:393-411. [PMID: 37950848 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-023-01914-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Identification of molecular biomarkers associated with neutrophilic asthma (NA) phenotype may inform the discovery of novel pathobiological mechanisms and the development of diagnostic markers. Three mRNA transcriptome datasets extracted from induced sputum of asthma patients with various inflammatory types were used to screen for macrophage-related molecular mechanisms and targets in NA. Furthermore, the predicted targets were also validated on an independent dataset (N = 3) and animal model (N = 5). A significant increase in total cells, neutrophils and macrophages was observed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of NA mice induced by ovalbumin/freund's adjuvant, complete (OVA/CFA). And we also found elevated levels of neutrophil and macrophage infiltration in NA subtype in external datasets. NA mice had increased secretion of IgE, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and BAL fluid. MPO, an enzyme present in neutrophils, was also highly expressed in NA mice. Then, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 684 targets with the strongest correlation with NA, and we obtained 609 macrophage-related specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in NA by integrating macrophage-related genes. The top 10 genes with high degree values were obtained and their mRNA levels and diagnostic performance were then determined by RT-qPCR and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Statistically significant correlations were found between macrophages and all key targets, with the strongest correlation between ITGAM and macrophages in NA. Double-Immunofluorescence staining further confirmed the co-localization of ITGAM and F4/80 in NA. ITGAM was identified as a critical target to distinguish NA from healthy/non-NA individuals, which may provide a novel avenue to further uncover the mechanisms and therapy of NA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zixing Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujing Chen
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Haikou hospital of Chinese traditional medicine, Haikou, China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjiang Zheng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiting Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Shenzhen Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Shaofeng Zhan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xiufang Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Airport Road, Guangzhou, 510405, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|