Immunoglobulin Heavy Constant Mu as a Shared Gene in Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Bioinformatic Analysis

Area of Science:

• Bioinformatics
• Immunology
• Genetics

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis (PD) are inflammatory diseases with shared immunopathogenic features.
• Identifying shared genetic factors could elucidate common disease mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify shared genes between RA and PD using bioinformatic approaches.
• To generate hypotheses regarding the role of shared genes in the pathogenesis of both diseases.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets for RA and PD.
• Applied Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and differential gene expression (DEG) analysis.
• Screened candidate genes using machine learning models and validated Immunoglobulin Heavy Constant Mu (IGHM) expression.

Main Results:

• Identified IGHM as a potential shared gene between RA and PD.
• IGHM mRNA and protein were highly expressed in patients with RA and PD, showing diagnostic potential.
• IGHM correlated with immune pathways (B cell receptor, Th cell differentiation, NF-kappa B) and immune cell infiltration.

Conclusions:

• IGHM may be a shared genetic marker for RA and PD.
• IGHM could serve as a general surrogate plasma/B-cell marker for immune responses in both conditions.