Yu Chaojie, Zhan Xinli, Liu Chong, Zhang Zide, Jiang Jie, Xu Guoyong, Xue Jiang
Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China (mainland).
Spine and Osteopathy Ward, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China (mainland).
Med Sci Monit. 2020 Oct 14;26:e925179. doi: 10.12659/MSM.925179.
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a disease that causes pathological changes in the spine and sacroiliac joints. Numerous studies have shown that the characteristics of AS differ between males and females. The purpose of this study was to discover the key molecules that contribute to sex-associated differences in AS, which may provide a new molecular target for personalized treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS The gene expression profile of GSE39340 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Comprehensive database, and 2 groups (AS vs. No-AS groups and male AS vs. female AS groups) of differentially expressed genes (EDGs) were obtained by GEO2R. The DAVID database was used for DEGs function and enrichment analysis. Based on data in the STRING online database, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed in Cytoscape. Hub genes were selected from CytoHubba. With the intersection of the top 30 hub genes of 2 sets of EDGs, genes coexisting with the KEGG-related pathway were found. RESULTS We screened 560 genes between the AS and No-AS groups, and screened 710 genes that were differentially expressed between the male and female AS groups. GO analysis showed that DEGs were mainly co-enriched in molecular functions, including structural constituent of muscle. The KEGG pathway mainly included the structural constituent of muscle. Seven hub genes were obtained. Troponin C2 and fast skeletal type (TNNC2) were the key genes participating in the calcium signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS This study contributes to understanding the molecular biological mechanism underlying sex-associated differences in AS. TNNC2 and calcium signaling pathway may be new targets for the individualized treatment of AS.
强直性脊柱炎（AS）是一种导致脊柱和骶髂关节发生病理变化的疾病。众多研究表明，AS的特征在男性和女性之间存在差异。本研究的目的是发现导致AS性别相关差异的关键分子，这可能为个性化治疗提供新的分子靶点。
从基因表达综合数据库下载GSE39340的基因表达谱，并通过GEO2R获得两组（AS组与非AS组以及男性AS组与女性AS组）差异表达基因（DEGs）。使用DAVID数据库对DEGs进行功能和富集分析。基于STRING在线数据库中的数据，在Cytoscape中构建蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用（PPI）网络。从CytoHubba中选择枢纽基因。通过两组DEGs的前30个枢纽基因的交集，发现与KEGG相关通路共存的基因。
我们在AS组与非AS组之间筛选出560个基因，在男性AS组与女性AS组之间筛选出710个差异表达基因。GO分析表明，DEGs主要共同富集在分子功能中，包括肌肉的结构成分。KEGG通路主要包括肌肉的结构成分。获得了7个枢纽基因。肌钙蛋白C2和快肌型（TNNC2）是参与钙信号通路的关键基因。
本研究有助于理解AS性别相关差异的分子生物学机制。TNNC2和钙信号通路可能是AS个体化治疗的新靶点。
