Zhang Min, Ying Ru, Lu Song
Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China; Jiangxi Hypertension Research Institute, Nanchang, China.
Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China; Jiangxi Hypertension Research Institute, Nanchang, China.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2025 Jun 14;776:152198. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.152198.
BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common degenerative vascular disease characterized by progressive dilation of the abdominal aorta, which poses a life-threatening risk upon rupture. Lactate, a key metabolic byproduct and immunomodulatory molecule, plays a crucial role in regulating immune cell functions in various inflammatory diseases. However, the specific involvement of lactate metabolism in the pathogenesis of AAA remains poorly understood. This study aims to identify lactate metabolism-related gene signatures associated with AAA and to elucidate their potential roles and underlying mechanisms in disease progression. METHODS: Transcriptomic datasets GSE57691, GSE183464, and GSE237230 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Lactate metabolism-related genes were retrieved from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and the Limma R package were employed to identify key gene modules associated with AAA and detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between AAA and control groups, respectively. Overlapping genes were subjected to functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. Three distinct machine learning algorithms were applied to screen for potential diagnostic biomarkers. Upon validation, a nomogram was constructed based on the selected biomarkers. Immune infiltration and single-cell RNA analysis were performed to characterize the immune microenvironment and investigate the association between immune cell subsets and AAA-related biomarkers. Finally, the expression patterns of the identified biomarkers were validated using a murine model of AAA. RESULTS: A total of 3336 AAA-related module genes, 2651 DEGs between AAA and controls, and 364 lactate metabolism-related genes were identified. Among these, 29 genes were recognized as lactate metabolism-related DEGs associated with AAA. Functional enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment in pathways related to oxidative phosphorylation and energy metabolism. SLC25A4, HBB, and STAT4 were identified as candidate biomarkers for AAA. Immune infiltration analysis revealed distinct immune profiles between AAA and control groups. Single-cell mRNA analysis demonstrated that SLC25A4 is predominantly expressed in adventitial cells and fibroblasts in AAA, HBB is expressed across multiple immune cell subsets, and STAT4 is mainly expressed in T cells. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis indicated that these biomarkers are involved in biological processes related to T cell activation and T cell differentiation. These findings were further validated in a murine model of AAA. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of lactate metabolism-related biomarkers and the comprehensive characterization of the immune microenvironment in AAA offer novel insights that may contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for AAA.
背景:腹主动脉瘤(AAA)是一种常见的退行性血管疾病,其特征为腹主动脉进行性扩张,破裂时会带来危及生命的风险。乳酸作为关键的代谢副产物和免疫调节分子,在多种炎症性疾病中调节免疫细胞功能方面发挥着至关重要的作用。然而,乳酸代谢在AAA发病机制中的具体作用仍知之甚少。本研究旨在识别与AAA相关的乳酸代谢相关基因特征,并阐明它们在疾病进展中的潜在作用和潜在机制。 方法:从基因表达综合数据库(GEO)中获取转录组数据集GSE57691、GSE183464和GSE237230。从分子特征数据库(MSigDB)中检索乳酸代谢相关基因。采用加权基因共表达网络分析(WGCNA)和Limma R包分别识别与AAA相关的关键基因模块,并检测AAA组与对照组之间的差异表达基因(DEGs)。对重叠基因进行功能富集分析和蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用(PPI)网络构建。应用三种不同的机器学习算法筛选潜在的诊断生物标志物。经过验证后,基于所选生物标志物构建列线图。进行免疫浸润和单细胞RNA分析以表征免疫微环境,并研究免疫细胞亚群与AAA相关生物标志物之间的关联。最后,使用AAA小鼠模型验证所识别生物标志物的表达模式。 结果:共识别出3336个与AAA相关的模块基因、AAA组与对照组之间的2651个DEGs以及364个乳酸代谢相关基因。其中,29个基因被认为是与AAA相关的乳酸代谢相关DEGs。功能富集分析显示在与氧化磷酸化和能量代谢相关的途径中显著富集。SLC25A4、HBB和STAT4被确定为AAA的候选生物标志物。免疫浸润分析揭示了AAA组与对照组之间不同的免疫特征。单细胞mRNA分析表明,SLC25A4主要在AAA的外膜细胞和成纤维细胞中表达,HBB在多个免疫细胞亚群中表达,而STAT4主要在T细胞中表达。基因集富集分析表明这些生物标志物参与与T细胞活化和T细胞分化相关的生物学过程。这些发现在AAA小鼠模型中得到进一步验证。 结论:识别乳酸代谢相关生物标志物以及全面表征AAA中的免疫微环境提供了新的见解,可能有助于开发针对AAA的靶向治疗策略。
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