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Identification of ZNF652 as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target in Osteoarthritis Using Machine Learning
Yeping Chen1, Rongyuan Liang1, Xifan Zheng1
1Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
Purpose:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease. However, its etiology remains largely unknown. Zinc Finger Protein 652 (ZNF652) is a transcription factor implicated in various biological processes. Nevertheless, its role in OA has not been elucidated.
Methods:
The search term "osteoarthritis" was utilized to procure transcriptome data relating to OA patients and healthy people from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then a screening process was initiated to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were discerned using three distinct machine learning methods. The accuracy of these DEGs in diagnosing OA was evaluated using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve. A competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) visualization network was established to delve into potential regulatory targets. The ZNF652 expression was confirmed in the cartilage of OA rats using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) and analyzed using an independent t-test.
Results:
ZNF652 was identified as a DEG and exhibited the highest diagnostic value for OA according to the ROC analysis. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggest that ZNF652 plays a vital role in OA development through processes including nitric oxide anabolism, macrophage proliferation, immune response, and the PI3K/Akt and the MAPK signaling pathways. The increased expression of ZNF652 in OA was validated in qRT-PCR (1.193 ± 0.005 vs 1.000 ± 0.005, p < 0.001) and WB (0.981 ± 0.055 vs 0.856 ± 0.026, p = 0.012) analysis.
Conclusion:
ZNF652 was found to be related to OA pathogenesis and can potentially serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target of OA. The underlying mechanism is that ZNF652 was related to nitric oxide anabolism, macrophage proliferation, various signaling pathways, and immune cells and their functions in OA. Nevertheless, the findings need to be confirmed in clinical trials and the molecular mechanism requires further study.
Insights
Zinc Finger Protein 652 (ZNF652) is a novel biomarker for osteoarthritis (OA). This study identified ZNF652 as a key diagnostic and therapeutic target for OA, highlighting its role in disease pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Immunology
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease with largely unknown causes.
- The role of Zinc Finger Protein 652 (ZNF652), a known transcription factor, in OA pathogenesis remains uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of ZNF652 in osteoarthritis.
- To identify ZNF652 as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for OA.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome data from OA patients and healthy individuals were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using machine learning.
- The diagnostic accuracy of DEGs was assessed via Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
- ZNF652 expression was validated in OA rat cartilage using qRT-PCR and Western blotting.
Main Results:
- ZNF652 was identified as a significant DEG with high diagnostic value for OA.
- Enrichment analyses indicated ZNF652's involvement in nitric oxide anabolism, macrophage proliferation, immune response, and PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.
- Validation confirmed significantly increased ZNF652 expression in OA cartilage.
Conclusions:
- ZNF652 is implicated in OA pathogenesis and shows potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target.
- ZNF652's mechanism involves regulating nitric oxide, macrophage activity, signaling pathways, and immune cell functions in OA.
- Further clinical validation and mechanistic studies are warranted.
