Decoding mitochondrial stress genes in DCM: towards precision diagnosis and therapy

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Genomics
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Mitochondrial oxidative stress is a key factor in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) pathogenesis.
• Robust biomarkers for assessing oxidative stress in DCM are lacking.
• This study investigates oxidative stress mechanisms and biomarkers in DCM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify novel biomarkers for mitochondrial oxidative stress in DCM.
• To explore the diagnostic potential of identified biomarkers.
• To uncover potential therapeutic targets for DCM.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptomic data analysis from GEO database.
• Identification of hub genes using consensus clustering, protein-protein interaction, and machine learning.
• Validation of hub gene expression in DCM patient blood samples.

Main Results:

• Five hub genes (VCL, ABCB1, JAK2, KDR, NGF) associated with mitochondrial oxidative stress were identified.
• Differential expression of these genes was observed between non-failing and DCM groups.
• Significant diagnostic efficacy (AUC) was demonstrated for VCL, ABCB1, JAK2, KDR, and NGF.

Conclusions:

• VCL, ABCB1, JAK2, KDR, and NGF are key genes in mitochondrial oxidative stress relevant to DCM.
• These genes exhibit differential expression in DCM and myocardial infarction, indicating diagnostic potential.
• The findings pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress in DCM.