Shin Joonyoung, Park A Yeong, Ju Suk, Lee Hyorin, Kang Hyung Won, Han Dongwoon, Kim Sungchul
Institute for Global Rare Disease Network, Professional Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea.
Department of Korean Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
Genes Genomics. 2025 Jan;47(1):71-85. doi: 10.1007/s13258-024-01582-y. Epub 2024 Nov 6.
We have previously reported anatomical, histological, and gene expression characteristics of the nodal structure of rat skin surface and suggested its potential as an acupuncture point. However, the specific characteristics of the interactions among the genes expressed in this structure remain unclear.
We aimed to determine gene expression changes by analyzing interaction networks of genes up-regulated in nodal structures and to explore relationships with acupuncture points.
We investigated the relationship between the nodal structures and acupuncture points by analyzing the interactions of up-regulated genes, their Gene Ontology biological functions, and the characteristics of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. RNA-seq and STRING analysis provided comprehensive information on these gene groups.
Interactions between up-regulated genes in nodal structures were classified into three groups. The first group, which includes Wnt7b, Wnt3, and Wnt16, showed significant interactions in pathways such as Wnt signaling, Alzheimer's disease, and regulation of stem cell pluripotency. The second group, composed of Fos, Dusp1, Pla2g4e, Pla2g4f, and Fgfr3, demonstrated a notable association with the MAPK signaling pathway. Lastly, the third group, consisting of Adcy1, Pla2g4e, Pla2g4f, and Dusp1 exhibited effective interactions with the inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels and serotonergic synapse.
Continued research on nodal structures where these genes are expressed is needed to improve our understanding of skin anatomy and physiology as well as their potential clinical utility as acupuncture points.
我们之前报道了大鼠皮肤表面节点结构的解剖学、组织学和基因表达特征，并提出了其作为穴位的潜力。然而，该结构中表达的基因之间相互作用的具体特征仍不清楚。
我们旨在通过分析节点结构中上调基因的相互作用网络来确定基因表达变化，并探索与穴位的关系。
我们通过分析上调基因的相互作用、它们的基因本体生物学功能以及京都基因与基因组百科全书途径的特征，研究了节点结构与穴位之间的关系。RNA测序和STRING分析提供了关于这些基因组的全面信息。
节点结构中上调基因之间的相互作用分为三组。第一组包括Wnt7b、Wnt3和Wnt16，在Wnt信号通路、阿尔茨海默病和干细胞多能性调节等途径中显示出显著的相互作用。第二组由Fos、Dusp1、Pla2g4e、Pla2g4f和Fgfr3组成，与MAPK信号通路有显著关联。最后，第三组由Adcy1、Pla2g4e、Pla2g4f和Dusp1组成，与TRP通道和血清素能突触的炎症介质调节表现出有效的相互作用。
需要对这些基因表达的节点结构进行持续研究，以增进我们对皮肤解剖学和生理学的理解，以及它们作为穴位的潜在临床应用价值。
