KIAA0101 and IL2RA Were Identified as Core Genes in Hormone-Resistant Nephropathy

To analyze the tissue heterogeneity of hormone-sensitive and drug-resistant nephrotic syndrome genes using a bioinformatics approach and to analyze gene-related functional pathways.

The limma package of R software was used to screen differential genes from the nephropathy datasets GSE145969 and GSE189734. The differential genes were analyzed for functional and pathway enrichment in terms of biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. The Metascape tool was used to construct protein networks for the differential genes, and the results were imported into Cytoscape software for visualization. The genes were identified as key modules and genes using the MCODE plug-in. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed for the HALLMARK analysis of the two microarray key genes to obtain the relevant pathways.

GSE145969 screened 351 differential genes, 168 upregulated genes, and 183 downregulated genes. The differential genes were enriched in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions, such as myocardial contraction, intracellular nonmembrane organelles, and structural molecular activities. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network contained 140 nodes, with the highest-scoring module containing seven genes, and the MCODE plug-in calculated the downseed. The key gene was KIAA0101, whose HALLMARK pathway was significantly enriched in the mTORC1 signaling pathway. A total of 263 differential genes were screened by GSE189734, and they were enriched in biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components, such as immune system processes, signaling receptor binding, and the cytoplasmic matrix. The PPI network contained 253 nodes, with the highest-scoring module containing 37 genes. The seed gene obtained through the MCODE plug-in calculation was IL2RA, whose HALLMARK pathway was significantly enriched in the KRAS signaling pathway.

By analyzing the gene sets of different tissues in nephropathy, two key genes, namely KIAA0101 and IL2RA, were obtained. Their gene function enrichment is related to cell growth, development, and reproduction. Therefore, IL2RA and KIAA0101 can be used as diagnostic markers for hormone-resistant nephropathy.