Identification of hub genes associated with infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot bioinformatics study.

BACKGROUND

() infection is related to various extragastric diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the possible mechanisms connecting infection and T2DM remain unknown.

AIM

To explore potential molecular connections between infection and T2DM.

METHODS

We extracted gene expression arrays from three online datasets (GSE60427, GSE27411 and GSE115601). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) commonly present in patients with infection and T2DM were identified. Hub genes were validated using human gastric biopsy samples. Correlations between hub genes and immune cell infiltration, miRNAs, and transcription factors (TFs) were further analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 67 DEGs were commonly presented in patients with infection and T2DM. Five significantly upregulated hub genes, including , , , , and , were finally identified, all of which are closely related to immune cell infiltration. The gene-miRNA analysis detected 13 miRNAs with at least two gene cross-links. TF-gene interaction networks showed that was coregulated by 26 TFs, the largest number of TFs among the 5 hub genes.

CONCLUSION

We identified five hub genes that may have molecular connections between infection and T2DM. This study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of -induced onset of T2DM.