Gene coexpression network analysis identified potential biomarkers in gestational diabetes mellitus progression

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common problems during pregnancy. Lack of international consistent diagnostic procedures has limit improvement of current therapeutic effectiveness. Here, we aimed to screen potential gene biomarkers that might play vital roles in GDM progression for assistance of its diagnostic and treatment.

Gene expression profiles in four GDM placentae at first trimester, four GDM placentae at second trimester, and four normal placentae were obtained from the publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) indicated two gene modules, that is, black and brown module, that was significantly positively and negatively correlated with GDM progression time points, respectively. Additionally, a significant positive correlation between module membership (MM) and degree in protein-protein interaction network of brown module genes was observed.

KIF2C, CENPE, CCNA2, AURKB, MAD2L1, CCNB2, CDC20, PLK1, CCNB1, and CDK1 all have degree larger than 50 and MM larger than 0.9, so they might be valuable biomarkers in GDM. Gene set enrichment analysis inferred tight relations between carbohydrate metabolism or steroid biosynthesis-related processes and GDM progression.

All in all, our study should provide several novel references for GDM diagnosis and therapeutic.