Identification of several hub-genes associated with periodontitis using integrated microarray analysis

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to identify differentially expressed genes and biological processes associated with periodontitis. In this study, the most significant 200 differentially expressed genes associated with periodontitis were identified using integrated analysis of multiple microarray data in combination with screening for genome‑wide relative significance and genome‑wide global significance. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and pathway analysis were performed using the GO website and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). A protein‑protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed based on the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins. The top 200 differentially expressed genes were found to be highly associated with periodontitis. GO enrichment analyses revealed that the identified genes were significantly enriched in terms of response to organic substance, response to wounding and cell migration. The most common term of the KEGG pathway was cytokine‑cytokine receptor interaction. PPI network analysis indicated that interleukin (IL)8, IL1β, vascular endothelial growth factor A, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, PTGS2 and CXCL10 were hub genes, which formed numerous interactions with several genes. In conclusion, the present study identified numerous genes that were differentially expressed in periodontitis, as well as determined the biological pathways and PPI network associated with those genes.

Figure 1

Experimental protocol of the present study. DEG, differentially expressed genes; GO, gene ontology.

Figure 2

Expression pattern of the top 10 ranked differentially expressed genes identified by the integrated analysis of three microarray databases. FC, fold change.

Figure 3

Protein-protein interaction networks of the top 200 differentially expressed genes identified by the integrated analysis of three microarray databases. Each biological relationship (an edge) between two genes (nodes) is supported by at least one reference from the literature or information stored in the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins Base. The degree for each gene is represented by the size of the gene node.