Bioinformatics analysis on differential expression genes of neutrophilic asthma and drug screening / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To explore the differential expression genes (DEGs) and potential therapeutic drugs of neutrophilic asthma (NA) based on bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking. Methods The gene expression profiles of NA were obtained from GEO database, and the differential expression genes were screened. The protein-protein interactions (PPI) of DEGs were obtained from STRING database, and the hub genes were screened by Cytoscape according to the degree of DEGs. The GO and KEGG pathway analysis were performed by DAVID database. Finally, molecular docking technology was used to screen the potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of NA. Results A total of 147 DEGs were obtained from NA patients compared with healthy people in GEO database. Ten hub genes were screened from PPI network, including CXCL8, FPR2, CXCL1, TNFRSF1B, CXCR1, etc. Go enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mostly associated with inflammation, immune response and chemotaxis, etc. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the DEGs were mainly involved in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and complement and coagulation signaling pathways. Molecular docking showed that paeoniflorigenone and triptolide had good binding activity with C8B and PLAU. Conclusion Complement and coagulation cascades may become a new therapeutic target of NA. The two screened compounds paeoniflorigenone and triptolide may be potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of NA.