Leveraging the integration of bioinformatics and machine learning to uncover common biomarkers and molecular pathways underlying diabetes and nephrolithiasis.

BACKGROUND

Kidney stones are a common benign condition of the urinary system, characterized by high incidence and recurrence rates. Our previous studies revealed an increased prevalence of kidney stones among diabetic patients, suggesting potential underlying mechanisms linking these two conditions. This study aims to identify key genes, pathways, and immune cells that may connect diabetes and kidney stones.

METHODS

We conducted bulk transcriptome differential analysis using our sequencing data, in conjunction with the AS dataset (GSE231569). After eliminating batch effects, we performed differential expression analysis and applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to investigate associations with 18 forms of cell death. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subsequently analyzed using 10 commonly used machine learning algorithms, generating 101 unique combinations to identify the final DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis was performed, alongside the construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and transcription factor (TF)-gene interaction networks.

RESULTS

For the first time, bioinformatics tools were utilized to investigate the close genetic relationship between diabetes and kidney stones. Among 101 machine learning models, S100A4, ARPC1B, and CEBPD were identified as the most significant interacting genes linking diabetes and kidney stones. The diagnostic potential of these biomarkers was validated in both training and test datasets.

CONCLUSION

We identified three biomarkers-S100A4, ARPC1B, and CEBPD-that may play critical roles in the shared pathogenesis of diabetes and kidney stones. These findings open new avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of these comorbid conditions.