AUTHOR=Kuang Wenhao , Jiang Cong , Yu Cheng , Hu Jinwei , Duan Yang , Chen Zhong 

TITLE=A microarray data analysis investigating the pathogenesis and potential biomarkers of autophagy and ferroptosis in intervertebral disc degeneration

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.1090467

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2022.1090467

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) entails complex pathological changes and causes lower back pain (LBP). However, there is still a lack of understanding of the mechanisms involved in IDD, particularly regarding the roles of autophagy and ferroptosis. The current study used microarray data to investigate the pathogenesis of IDD and potential biomarkers related to autophagy and ferroptosis in IDD.

Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by analyzing the mRNA and miRNA expression profiles of IDD patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The protein-protein interaction network, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were also utilized, as was gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The Human Autophagy Database (HADb) and Ferroptosis Database were used in conjunction with hub genes to identify autophagy- and ferroptosis-related genes. The TF-hub gene-miRNA network was constructed. Lastly, the expression of DEGs in normal and degenerated nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) was investigated via the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results: A total of 362 DEGs associated with IDD were identified. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that oxidative stress, the extracellular matrix, the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, and ferroptosis were key factors in the occurrence of IDD. GSEA indicated that IDD was associated with changes in autophagy, iron ion homeostasis, extracellular matrix, and oxidative stress. Eighty-nine hub genes were obtained, including five that were autophagy-related and three that were ferroptosis-related. Of these, TP53 and SESN2 were the intersections of autophagy-related genes and ferroptosis-related genes. In qRT-PCR analyses, CANX, SLC38A1, and TP53 were downregulated in degenerative NPCs, whereas GNAI3, SESN2, and VAMP3 were upregulated.

Conclusion: The current study revealed aspects of autophagy-related and ferroptosis related genes involved in IDD pathogenesis, which warrants further investigation.