Transcriptional profiling analysis predicts potential biomarkers for glaucoma: HGF, AKR1B10 and AKR1C3

Glaucoma results in damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. The aim of this study was to screen more accurate biomarkers and targets for glaucoma. The datasets E-GEOD-7144 and E-MEXP-3427 were screened for differently expressed genes (DEGs) by significance analysis of microarrays. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis were processed. Pathway relationship networks and gene co-expression networks were constructed. DEGs of disease and treatment with the same symbols were of interest. RT-qPCR was processed to verify the expression of key DEGs. A total of 1,019 DEGs of glaucoma were identified and 93 DEGs in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and TGF-β1-2 treatment cases compared with the normal control group. Pathway relationship network of glaucoma was constructed with 25 nodes. The pathway relationship network of TGF-β1 and -2 treatment groups was constructed with 11 nodes. Glaucoma-related DEGs in GO terms and pathways were inserted and 180 common DEGs were obtained. Then, gene co-expression network of glaucoma-related DEGs was constructed with 91 nodes. Furthermore, DEGs of TGF-β1 and -2 treated glaucoma in GO terms and pathways were inserted, and 29 common DEGs were identified. Based on these DEGs, gene co-expression network was constructed with 12 nodes and 16 edges. Finally, a total of 6 important DEGs of disease and treatment were inserted and obtained. They were HGF, AKR1B10, AKR1C3, PPAP2B, INHBA and BCAT1. The expression of HGF, AKR1B10 and AKR1C3 was decreased in glaucoma samples and treatment samples. In conclusion, HGF, AKR1B10 and AKR1C3 may be key genes for glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.