VWF, CXCL8 and IL6 might be potential druggable genes for acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major global health concern, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality.
• Identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying ACS is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To screen critical genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) implicated in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
• To elucidate the regulatory networks and potential therapeutic targets for ACS.

Main Methods:

• Utilized microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (accession number GSE19339).
• Identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using limma, followed by enrichment analysis with DAVID.
• Constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) and transcription factor (TF)-miRNA-target gene networks using Cytoscape.
• Predicted drug-gene interactions via the DGIdb database.

Main Results:

• Identified 425 DEGs in ACS samples compared to controls.
• Enrichment analysis revealed involvement in angiogenesis, inflammatory response, and PI3K-Akt signaling.
• IL6 and VEGFA emerged as key nodes in the PPI network.
• hsa-miR-29, hsa-miR-1, NFIC, NFKB1, and RELA were identified as critical factors in the TF-miRNA-target gene network.
• VWF, CXCL8, and IL6 showed high potential as druggable targets.

Conclusions:

• IL6 and VEGFA are likely pivotal in ACS progression.
• hsa-miR-29, hsa-miR-1, NFIC, NFKB1, and RELA are critical in the pathological processes of ACS.
• VWF, CXCL8, and IL6 represent potential therapeutic targets for ACS treatment.