Network Integration Analysis and Immune Infiltration Analysis Reveal Potential Biomarkers for Primary Open-Angle...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Genomics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is irreversible optic neuropathy requiring early diagnosis.
• Existing POAG biomarker research lacks systematic analysis of pre- and post-transcriptional gene regulation.
• Aqueous humor (AH) transcriptomic data offers insights into POAG pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically investigate transcriptome dysregulation in POAG.
• To identify novel biomarkers for POAG diagnosis and treatment.
• To elucidate regulatory mechanisms at pre- and post-transcriptional levels.

Main Methods:

• Collected and analyzed aqueous humor (AH) transcriptomic profiles (lncRNA, mRNA, miRNA) from POAG and non-glaucoma patients.
• Performed differential expression analysis to identify significant DEGs.
• Constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and transcriptional regulatory networks.
• Utilized random walk algorithm and immune infiltration analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified thousands of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in POAG AH tissue.
• Constructed a ceRNA network with 1,653 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA units and identified two disease-associated subnets.
• Revealed a transcriptional regulatory network involving FOS, ATF4, and RELB.
• Discovered an immune desert status in POAG AH and identified the AL590666.2-hsa-miR-339-5p-UROD axis as a potential POAG biomarker.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates POAG's transcriptome dysregulation mechanisms, including pre- and post-transcriptional regulation.
• Identified key transcription factors (FOS, ATF4, RELB) involved in T-cell regulation.
• The AL590666.2-hsa-miR-339-5p-UROD axis shows promise as a POAG biomarker.
• Findings support individualized diagnosis and treatment strategies for POAG.