Transcriptomic analysis reveals the potential crosstalk genes and immune relationship between Crohn's disease and...

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Immunology
• Cardiovascular Research
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Crohn's disease (CD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) share inflammatory and autoimmune characteristics.
• Emerging evidence suggests an elevated risk of AF in individuals with CD.
• Limited research exists on the shared genetic and immunological underpinnings of CD and AF.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate shared genes, pathways, and immune cell infiltration between CD and AF.
• To identify potential molecular links connecting these two distinct conditions.
• To explore the immunological basis for the observed association between CD and AF.

Main Methods:

• Utilized weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify shared genes from GEO datasets.
• Performed Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses on key gene modules.
• Applied LASSO regression and SVM for hub gene screening, followed by ssGSEA for immune cell infiltration analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified 30 shared genes associated with the pathology of both AF and CD using WGCNA.
• GO analysis revealed enrichment in pathways related to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and antigen processing.
• Pinpointed CXCL16 and HLA-DPB1 as key overlapping genes; observed increased CD4+, CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells.

Conclusions:

• Identified CXCL16 and HLA-DPB1 as significant genes linking CD and AF through bioinformatics analysis.
• Suggests a crucial role for immune responses involving CD4+, CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells in the interplay between CD and AF.
• Provides a genetic and immunological basis for understanding the co-occurrence of CD and AF.