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Published on: December 15, 2023
Association of microbiota-derived propionic acid and Alzheimer's disease; bioinformatics analysis
Morteza Aliashrafi1,2, Mohammad Nasehi1,3, Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast1,4,5
1Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran.
Purpose:
Microbiota-derived metabolites could alter the brain tissue toward the neurodegeneration disease. This study aims to select the genes associated with Propionic acid (PPA) and compromise Alzheimer's disease (AD) to find the possible roles of PPA in AD pathogenesis.
Methods:
Microbiota-derived metabolites could alter the brain tissue toward the neurodegeneration disease. This study aims to select the genes associated with Propionic acid (PPA) and compromise Alzheimer's disease (AD) to find the possible roles of PPA in AD pathogenesis.
Results:
Amongst all genes associated with PPA and AD, 284 genes to be shared by searching databases and were subjected to further analysis. AD-PPA genes mainly involved in cancer, bacterial and virus infection, and neurological and non-neurological diseases. Gene Ontology and pathway analysis covered the most AD hallmark, such as amyloid formation, apoptosis, proliferation, inflammation, and immune system. Network analysis revealed hub and bottleneck genes. MCODE analysis also indicated the seed genes represented in the significant subnetworks. ICAM1 and CCND1 were the hub, bottleneck, and seed genes.
Conclusions:
PPA interacted genes implicated in AD act through pathways initiate neuronal cell death. In sum up, AD-PPA shared genes exhibited evidence that supports the idea PPA secreted from bacteria could alter brain physiology toward the emerging AD signs. This idea needs to confirm by more future investigation in animal models.
Insights
Propionic acid (PPA), a metabolite from gut bacteria, may contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) by influencing genes involved in neuronal cell death. Further research is needed to confirm PPA's role in AD pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Microbiota-derived metabolites can impact brain health and neurodegeneration.
- Propionic acid (PPA) is a metabolite produced by gut bacteria.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genes associated with both Propionic acid (PPA) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- To elucidate the potential role of PPA in the pathogenesis of AD.
Main Methods:
- Gene association analysis using database searches.
- Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis.
- Network analysis including hub, bottleneck, and seed gene identification.
Main Results:
- Identified 284 shared genes between PPA and AD.
- These genes are implicated in cancer, infections, and neurological diseases.
- Key pathways include amyloid formation, apoptosis, inflammation, and immune response.
- ICAM1 and CCND1 identified as crucial hub, bottleneck, and seed genes.
Conclusions:
- Genes interacting with PPA in AD are linked to pathways initiating neuronal cell death.
- Evidence suggests PPA from bacteria may alter brain function, contributing to AD.
- Further animal model studies are required to validate these findings.
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