Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025
Co-immunoprecipitation Assay Using Endogenous Nuclear Proteins from Cells Cultured Under Hypoxic Conditions
Published on: August 2, 2018
Identification of Hypoxia-Related Genes in Human Myocardial Infarction and Cancers
Si Yan1, Zhichao Fang1, Xin Xue1
1Department of Cardiology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China.
Introduction:
Myocardial infarction (MI) and cancer collectively account for over 50% of global mortality. Recent studies have revealed multiple associations between these two diseases, including chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, with particular focus on hypoxia-mediated signaling pathways. In ischemic myocardium, oxygen deprivation triggers apoptosis, fibrosis, and pathological tissue reorganization; in the tumor microenvironment (TME), hypoxia drives angiogenesis, metabolic reprogramming, and immune evasion. Thus, identifying differentially expressed genes related to hypoxia in MI may provide new targets for the treatment of MI and cancer.
Methods:
The specimens from MI patients in this study were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Using the "limma" package in R and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a set of hypoxia-related differentially expressed genes was screened out. Subsequently, these hub genes were subjected to functional enrichment analysis, and their expression levels were verified in an independent dataset. Finally, transcriptional regulatory analysis and immune infiltration analysis were conducted for the hub genes, and their expression levels and prognostic values in various cancers were evaluated.
Results:
In MI samples, nine genes, namely Immediate Early Response 3 (IER3), Heme Oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), Plasminogen Activator Urokinase Receptor (PLAUR), MAF BZIP Transcription Factor F (MAFF), Solute Carrier Family 2 Member 3 (SLC2A3), Jun Proto-Oncogene (JUN), Transforming Growth Factor Beta Induced (TGFBI), and 6-Phosphofructo-2-Kinase/Fructose-2,6-Biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), were found to demonstrate significant dysregulation and to be closely associated with the occurrence of various cancers. Pan-cancer analysis further revealed the association of hub genes with cancer prognosis. Immune analysis also revealed their associations with resting CD4+ memory T cells and gamma delta T cells in TME.
Conclusion:
IER3, HMOX1, CDKN1A, PLAUR, MAFF, SLC2A3, JUN, TGFBI, and PFKFB3 are potential biomarkers for MI and cancer. Research on hypoxia-related genes may provide new therapeutic targets for these two diseases.
Related Concept Videos
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
01:23Hypoxia
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply