Epidemiological and transcriptome data identify potential key genes involved in inflammatory response for diabetic...

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Immunology
• Genetics

Background:

• Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a significant complication of diabetes, linked to inflammatory processes.
• The neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) is an emerging inflammatory marker.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between NPAR and DN risk.
• To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets in DN development.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (2009-2018) for epidemiological association.
• Bioinformatic analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) transcriptomic data to identify hub genes and pathways.
• Multivariate linear regression and subgroup analyses to assess NPAR's association with DN.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between NPAR and the risk of DN (OR 1.62-2.06).
• This association was consistent across various demographic and clinical subgroups.
• Bioinformatics identified 49 hub genes, including DUSP1, CXCR1, and SKIL, with the p38MAPK pathway playing a central role in DN.
• Resveratrol, curcumin, and genistein showed strong interactions with key genes (DUSP1, CXCR1, SKIL), suggesting therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

• NPAR is a reliable diagnostic indicator for DN.
• Inflammatory response significantly influences DN development and progression.
• Resveratrol, curcumin, and genistein hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for DN.