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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Refined Murine Model of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Published on: June 17, 2025
Analysis of Microarray-Identified Genes and MicroRNAs Associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Lichao Fan1,2, Xiaoting Yu1, Ziling Huang1
1Department of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to identify potential microRNAs and genes associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) through web-available microarrays. The microRNA microarray dataset GSE32538 and the mRNA datasets GSE32537, GSE53845, and GSE10667 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs)/genes (DEGs) were screened with GEO2R, and their associations with IPF were analyzed by comprehensive bioinformatic analyses. A total of 45 DE-microRNAs were identified between IPF and control tissues, whereas 67 common DEGs were determined to exhibit the same expression trends in all three microarrays. Furthermore, functional analysis indicated that microRNAs in cancer and ECM-receptor interaction were the most significant pathways and were enriched by the 45 DE-miRNAs and 67 common DEGs. Finally, we predicted potential microRNA-target interactions between 17 DE-miRNAs and 17 DEGs by using at least three online programs. A microRNA-mediated regulatory network among the DE-miRNAs and DEGs was constructed that might shed new light on potential biomarkers for the prediction of IPF progression.
Insights
Researchers identified 45 differentially expressed microRNAs and 67 genes linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) using bioinformatics. These findings may lead to new biomarkers for predicting IPF progression.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Bioinformatics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with limited treatment options.
- Identifying molecular markers is crucial for understanding IPF pathogenesis and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel microRNAs (miRNAs) and genes associated with IPF using publicly available microarray data.
- To explore potential miRNA-gene interactions and construct a regulatory network for IPF.
Main Methods:
- Downloaded miRNA (GSE32538) and mRNA (GSE32537, GSE53845, GSE10667) datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.
- Utilized GEO2R for screening differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) and genes (DEGs).
- Performed comprehensive bioinformatic analyses, including pathway enrichment and miRNA-target prediction using multiple online tools.
Main Results:
- Identified 45 DE-miRNAs and 67 common DEGs between IPF and control tissues.
- Functional analysis revealed significant enrichment in cancer and ECM-receptor interaction pathways.
- Predicted potential interactions between 17 DE-miRNAs and 17 DEGs, constructing a miRNA-mediated regulatory network.
Conclusions:
- The study identified key DE-miRNAs and DEGs potentially involved in IPF pathogenesis.
- The constructed regulatory network offers insights into miRNA-gene interactions in IPF.
- These findings may contribute to developing novel biomarkers for IPF prediction and management.
