AI Insight
Using integrative bioinformatics analysis of three lung transcriptomic datasets from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), researchers identified eight hub genes associated with immune dysregulation in the disease. Four of these genes, BCLAF1, CDC5L, SMARCA5, and ASH1L, were significantly upregulated in a mouse model of PAH and showed notable correlations with specific immune cell populations, including T helper cell subsets, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. BCLAF1 demonstrated the highest diagnostic performance among the identified candidates.
Why it matters
These findings provide potential molecular targets for future mechanistic studies aimed at better understanding the immune-driven pathogenesis of PAH, a progressive and often fatal vascular disease with limited treatment options. Identifying reliable immune-associated biomarkers may also contribute to improved diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for affected patients.
by Xitong Yang, Bin Zhou, Ying Yang, Yu Dong, Jifen Fu, Hong Liu, Xinhua Wu
Background
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive vascular disease characterized by immune dysregulation and pulmonary vascular remodeling. This study aimed to identify immune-associated hub genes in PAH using an integrative bioinformatics framework and to validate key candidates in an experimental model.
Methods
Three PAH lung transcriptomic datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed. Immune cell infiltration was estimated using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and integrated through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. Hub genes were prioritized using multiple machine learning algorithms. A PAH-relevant murine model (Su5416 combined with hypoxia) was used for in-vivo validation by quantitative real-time PCR.
Results
A total of 8 hub genes were identified through integrative screening across multiple algorithms and were validated in independent datasets. Among these hub genes, BCLAF1 demonstrated the highest diagnostic performance. Immune infiltration analysis revealed significant alterations in T helper cell subsets in PAH. Correlation analysis indicated associations between hub genes and specific immune signatures, including positive correlations of CDC5L and RBM39 with Tgd cells, a negative correlation of ASH1L with neutrophils, and inverse associations of CTNNB1 and SMARCA5 with dendritic cells (DCs) and central memory T cell (Tcm) signatures. In the PAH murine model, BCLAF1, CDC5L, SMARCA5, and ASH1L were significantly upregulated in lung tissues, accompanied by enhanced collagen deposition.
Conclusion
This study identified BCLAF1, CDC5L, SMARCA5, and ASH1L as immune-associated hub genes in PAH and proposed a transcriptomic gene–immune prioritization framework. These candidates warrant further mechanistic investigation for their potential roles in PAH pathogenesis.