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Functional Analysis of Estrogen Receptor 1 in Diabetic Wound Healing: A Knockdown Cell-Based and Bioinformatic Study
Sha Qi1, Qiong Han1, Danmou Xing1
1Department of Hand Surgery, Wuhan Fourth Hospital; Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland).
Abstract:
BACKGROUND Diabetic wound (DW) treatment is a serious challenge for clinicians, and the underlying mechanisms of DWs remain elusive. We sought to identify the critical genes in the development of DWs and provide potential targets for DW therapies. MATERIAL AND METHODS Datasets of GSE38396 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were reviewed. Pathway analysis was performed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Ontology term analyses were carried out, and Cytoscape software (Cytoscape 3.7.2) was used to construct the protein interaction network. Serum samples from patients with diabetes and control participants were collected, and the expression of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) was measured by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the function of ESR1 in human skin fibroblasts was investigated in vitro. RESULTS Eight samples were analyzed using the Morpheus online tool, which identified 637 upregulated and 448 downregulated differentially expressed genes. The top 5 KEGG pathways of upregulated differentially expressed genes were associated with sphingolipid metabolism, estrogen signaling, ECM-receptor interaction, MAPK signaling, and PI3K-Akt signaling. The hub genes for DWs were JUN, ESR1, CD44, SMARCA4, MMP2, BMP4, GSK3B, WDR5, PTK2, and PTGS2. JUN, MMP2, and ESR1 were the upregulated hub genes, and ESR1 was found to be consistently enriched in DW patients. Inhibition of ESR1 had a stimulative role in human skin fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS ESR1 was identified as a crucial gene in the development of DWs, which suggests potential therapeutic targets for DW healing.
Insights
Estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) is a key gene in diabetic wound development. Targeting ESR1 shows promise for improving diabetic wound healing therapies.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Diabetic wounds (DWs) present a significant clinical challenge.
- The molecular mechanisms underlying DW pathogenesis are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify critical genes involved in DW development.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets for DW treatment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset GSE38396.
- Pathway analysis (KEGG, Gene Ontology) and protein-protein interaction network construction (Cytoscape).
- Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) expression in patient serum and in vitro fibroblast studies.
Main Results:
- Identified 637 upregulated and 448 downregulated differentially expressed genes in DWs.
- Key pathways involved include sphingolipid metabolism, estrogen signaling, ECM-receptor interaction, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt signaling.
- Estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) was identified as a consistently upregulated hub gene in DW patients, and its inhibition promoted human skin fibroblast activity.
Conclusions:
- Estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) plays a crucial role in the development of diabetic wounds.
- ESR1 represents a potential therapeutic target for enhancing diabetic wound healing.
