Transcriptome-based identification and experimental validation of a key gene in Alzheimer's disease using dermal...

BackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and neuronal damage. The pathogenesis of AD is complex and involves multiple pathological processes. Currently, effective methods for early diagnosis and treatment are lacking.ObjectiveTo identify key pathogenic genes and investigate their roles in Alzheimer's disease, we analyzed transcriptomic data from dermal fibroblasts of AD patients, aiming to assess their potential as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.MethodsTranscriptomic data from AD patient and control-derived dermal fibroblasts (DFs) were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes. Key genes were screened using bioinformatics and a random forest algorithm. ceRNA analysis was performed to explore miRNA-mRNA interactions. The candidate gene SRSF5 was validated via overexpression and knockdown, followed by qPCR, western blotting, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. The role of SRSF5 in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was evaluated by measuring ER stress markers and cellular stress responses.ResultsTranscriptomic analysis revealed significant upregulation of SRSF5 in AD DFs. ceRNA analysis identified miRNAs regulating SRSF5 in AD. Overexpression of SRSF5 led to reduced neuronal proliferation, increased apoptosis, elevated ROS levels, and activation of ER stress markers (CHOP, GRP78, XBP1). SRSF5 knockdown alleviated these effects.ConclusionsSRSF5 may drive AD pathogenesis via ER and oxidative stress, serving as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for early diagnosis and intervention.