Identifying Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome-Associated Genes and Pathways through Weighted Gene Coexpression Network...

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent sleep disorder with significant respiratory impact.
• Current treatment options for OSAS are limited, and its prognosis is often poor.
• Understanding OSAS pathogenesis is crucial for developing effective therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
• To analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and coexpression modules associated with OSAS.
• To investigate hub genes and enriched pathways in OSAS pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Downloaded and analyzed gene expression data (GSE75097) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.
• Utilized Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify OSAS-related gene modules.
• Performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses.
• Constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to identify hub genes using Cytoscape.

Main Results:

• Identified 7565 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in OSAS.
• Discovered four key coexpression modules (green-yellow, magenta, purple, turquoise) associated with OSAS via WGCNA.
• Screened eight hub genes (DDX46, RNF115, COPA, FBXO4, PA2G4, NHP2L1, CDC20, PCNA).
• Found enrichment in tRNA modification, nucleobase metabolism, DNA ligation, and basal transcription factors.

Conclusions:

• The identified hub genes and pathways provide a foundation for understanding OSAS molecular mechanisms.
• This research offers a valuable reference for discovering novel biological targets for OSAS treatment.
• Further investigation into these molecular players could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for OSAS.