Potential Mechanism and Therapeutic Targets of Polymyositis

To investigate the variability in the expression profile of genes associated with polymyositis (PM), explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying PM, and predict novel targets for intervention.

Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Rheumatology, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou, China, from August to November 2023.

Three microarray datasets (GSE3112, GSE39454, and GSE128470) were extracted from the gene expression omnibus (GEO). The analysis of this research involved identifying the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PM compared to normal samples. Enrichment analysis, gene-microRNA, gene-transcription factor (TF), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network studies were conducted to identify hub genes and relevant pathways. Additionally, the drug-gene interaction database (DGIdb) was used to predict therapeutic medications.

Eighty-eight DEGs were identified. The enrichment analysis results highlighted the significant involvement of downregulated DEGs in antigen processing and presentation. Based on the PPI networks, seven hub genes with high connectivity degrees were selected including a cluster of differentiation 74 (CD74), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPA1, HLA-B, guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP1), recombinant 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1), HLA-C, and HLA-E.

This research screened-out core genes, projected prospective therapeutic medications, discovered DEGs between PM and normal samples, and offered fresh perspectives for additional research into the possible mechanism and therapeutic targets of PM.

Polymyositis, DEGs, Hub genes, Bioinformatics, Potential therapeutic agents.