Bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

Abstract The global incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) continues to rise, primarily driven by the escalating obesity epidemic worldwide. MASLD, a spectrum of liver disorders, can progress to more severe conditions, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohep...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuanfeng Lan, Ran Song, Duiping Feng, Junqi He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90744-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849767409205903360
author Yuanfeng Lan
Ran Song
Duiping Feng
Junqi He
author_facet Yuanfeng Lan
Ran Song
Duiping Feng
Junqi He
author_sort Yuanfeng Lan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The global incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) continues to rise, primarily driven by the escalating obesity epidemic worldwide. MASLD, a spectrum of liver disorders, can progress to more severe conditions, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), ultimately culminating in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given the complex nature of MASLD, there is an urgent need to develop robust risk prediction models and design specialized cancer screening initiatives tailored specifically for individuals with MASLD. This study aimed to identify genes exhibiting trending expression patterns that could serve as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Our approach involved analyzing expression patterns across the five stages of MASLD development and progression. Notably, we introduced an innovative two-phase classification—MASLD occurrence and MASLD progression—instead of categorizing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) into multiple types. Leveraging LASSO regression models, we demonstrated their relatively strong capability to predict and distinguish both MASLD occurrence and progression. Furthermore, our analysis identified CYP7A1 and TNFRSF12A as significantly associated with the prognosis of MASLD progressing to HCC. These findings contribute to the understanding of gene expression dynamics in MASLD and may pave the way for the development of effective prognostic tools and targeted therapies in the realm of liver disease.
format Article
id doaj-art-15f5144f61374be994480c7d53cc7e32
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-15f5144f61374be994480c7d53cc7e322025-08-20T03:04:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-90744-3Bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)Yuanfeng Lan0Ran Song1Duiping Feng2Junqi He3Beijing Key Laboratory for Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical UniversityBeijing Key Laboratory for Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Interventional Radiology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical UniversityBeijing Key Laboratory for Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical UniversityAbstract The global incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) continues to rise, primarily driven by the escalating obesity epidemic worldwide. MASLD, a spectrum of liver disorders, can progress to more severe conditions, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), ultimately culminating in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given the complex nature of MASLD, there is an urgent need to develop robust risk prediction models and design specialized cancer screening initiatives tailored specifically for individuals with MASLD. This study aimed to identify genes exhibiting trending expression patterns that could serve as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Our approach involved analyzing expression patterns across the five stages of MASLD development and progression. Notably, we introduced an innovative two-phase classification—MASLD occurrence and MASLD progression—instead of categorizing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) into multiple types. Leveraging LASSO regression models, we demonstrated their relatively strong capability to predict and distinguish both MASLD occurrence and progression. Furthermore, our analysis identified CYP7A1 and TNFRSF12A as significantly associated with the prognosis of MASLD progressing to HCC. These findings contribute to the understanding of gene expression dynamics in MASLD and may pave the way for the development of effective prognostic tools and targeted therapies in the realm of liver disease.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90744-3Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)Expression pattern cluster analysisLASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator)Prognostic implications
spellingShingle Yuanfeng Lan
Ran Song
Duiping Feng
Junqi He
Bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Scientific Reports
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Expression pattern cluster analysis
LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator)
Prognostic implications
title Bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
title_full Bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
title_fullStr Bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
title_full_unstemmed Bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
title_short Bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
title_sort bioinformatic analysis of molecular expression patterns during the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease masld
topic Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Expression pattern cluster analysis
LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator)
Prognostic implications
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90744-3
work_keys_str_mv AT yuanfenglan bioinformaticanalysisofmolecularexpressionpatternsduringthedevelopmentandprogressionofmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseasemasld
AT ransong bioinformaticanalysisofmolecularexpressionpatternsduringthedevelopmentandprogressionofmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseasemasld
AT duipingfeng bioinformaticanalysisofmolecularexpressionpatternsduringthedevelopmentandprogressionofmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseasemasld
AT junqihe bioinformaticanalysisofmolecularexpressionpatternsduringthedevelopmentandprogressionofmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseasemasld