Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Obese Populations

Xize Wu,1,* Jiaxiang Pan,2,* Xue Pan,1,3,* Jian Kang,1 Jiaqi Ren,1 Yuxi Huang,1 Lihong Gong,2,4 Yue Li2,4 1Graduate School, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110847, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospi...

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Main Authors: Wu X, Pan J, Pan X, Kang J, Ren J, Huang Y, Gong L, Li Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Inflammation Research
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/identification-of-potential-diagnostic-biomarkers-of-carotid-atheroscl-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR
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author Wu X
Pan J
Pan X
Kang J
Ren J
Huang Y
Gong L
Li Y
author_facet Wu X
Pan J
Pan X
Kang J
Ren J
Huang Y
Gong L
Li Y
author_sort Wu X
collection DOAJ
description Xize Wu,1,* Jiaxiang Pan,2,* Xue Pan,1,3,* Jian Kang,1 Jiaqi Ren,1 Yuxi Huang,1 Lihong Gong,2,4 Yue Li2,4 1Graduate School, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110847, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110032, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dazhou Vocational College of Chinese Medicine, Dazhou, Sichuan, 635000, People’s Republic of China; 4Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM Geriatric Cardio-Cerebrovascular Diseases, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110032, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lihong Gong; Yue Li, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 33, Beiling Street, Huanggu District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110032, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 024-82961105, Email Linda1795@sina.com; med_liyue@163.comObjective: This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms and biomarkers between Obesity (OB) and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS).Methods: The GSE12828, GSE125771, GSE43292, and GSE100927 datasets were combined and normalized to obtain CAS-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and OB-related DEGs were obtained from the GSE151839 dataset and the GeneCards database. Unsupervised cluster analysis was conducted on CAS samples based on the DEGs of CAS and OB. Subsequently, immune infiltration analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GESA) were performed. 61 machine learning models were developed to screen for Hub genes. The Single-gene GESA focused on calcium signaling pathway-related genes (CaRGs). Finally, high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6J ApoE−/− mice were used for in vivo validation.Results: MMP9, PLA2G7, and SPP1 as regulators of the immune infiltration microenvironment in OB patients with CAS, and stratified CAS samples into subtypes with differences in metabolic pathways based on OB classification. Enrichment analysis indicated abnormalities in immune and inflammatory responses, the calcium signaling, and lipid response in obese CAS patients. The RF+GBM model identified CD52, CLEC5A, MMP9, and SPP1 as Hub genes. 15 CaRGs were up-regulated, and 12 were down-regulated in CAS and OB. PLCB2, PRKCB, and PLCG2 were identified as key genes in the calcium signaling pathway associated with immune cell infiltration. In vivo experiments showed that MMP9, PLA2G7, CD52, SPP1, FYB, and PLCB2 mRNA levels were up-regulated in adipose, aortic tissues and serum of OB and AS model mice, CLEC5A was up-regulated in aorta and serum, and PRKCB was up-regulated in adipose and serum.Conclusion: MMP9, PLA2G7, CD52, CLEC5A, SPP1, and FYB may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers for CAS in obese populations. PLCB2 and PRKCB are key genes in the calcium signaling pathway in OB and CAS. These findings offer new insights into clinical management and therapeutic strategies for CAS in obese individuals.Keywords: carotid atherosclerosis, obesity, bioinformatics, unsupervised clustering analysis, machine learning model, calcium signaling pathway
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spelling doaj-art-19cb6d2b331b493690c325843dd37dab2025-02-11T17:30:56ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Inflammation Research1178-70312025-02-01Volume 1819691991100018Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Obese PopulationsWu XPan JPan XKang JRen JHuang YGong LLi YXize Wu,1,* Jiaxiang Pan,2,* Xue Pan,1,3,* Jian Kang,1 Jiaqi Ren,1 Yuxi Huang,1 Lihong Gong,2,4 Yue Li2,4 1Graduate School, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110847, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110032, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dazhou Vocational College of Chinese Medicine, Dazhou, Sichuan, 635000, People’s Republic of China; 4Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM Geriatric Cardio-Cerebrovascular Diseases, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110032, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lihong Gong; Yue Li, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 33, Beiling Street, Huanggu District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110032, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 024-82961105, Email Linda1795@sina.com; med_liyue@163.comObjective: This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms and biomarkers between Obesity (OB) and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS).Methods: The GSE12828, GSE125771, GSE43292, and GSE100927 datasets were combined and normalized to obtain CAS-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and OB-related DEGs were obtained from the GSE151839 dataset and the GeneCards database. Unsupervised cluster analysis was conducted on CAS samples based on the DEGs of CAS and OB. Subsequently, immune infiltration analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GESA) were performed. 61 machine learning models were developed to screen for Hub genes. The Single-gene GESA focused on calcium signaling pathway-related genes (CaRGs). Finally, high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6J ApoE−/− mice were used for in vivo validation.Results: MMP9, PLA2G7, and SPP1 as regulators of the immune infiltration microenvironment in OB patients with CAS, and stratified CAS samples into subtypes with differences in metabolic pathways based on OB classification. Enrichment analysis indicated abnormalities in immune and inflammatory responses, the calcium signaling, and lipid response in obese CAS patients. The RF+GBM model identified CD52, CLEC5A, MMP9, and SPP1 as Hub genes. 15 CaRGs were up-regulated, and 12 were down-regulated in CAS and OB. PLCB2, PRKCB, and PLCG2 were identified as key genes in the calcium signaling pathway associated with immune cell infiltration. In vivo experiments showed that MMP9, PLA2G7, CD52, SPP1, FYB, and PLCB2 mRNA levels were up-regulated in adipose, aortic tissues and serum of OB and AS model mice, CLEC5A was up-regulated in aorta and serum, and PRKCB was up-regulated in adipose and serum.Conclusion: MMP9, PLA2G7, CD52, CLEC5A, SPP1, and FYB may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers for CAS in obese populations. PLCB2 and PRKCB are key genes in the calcium signaling pathway in OB and CAS. These findings offer new insights into clinical management and therapeutic strategies for CAS in obese individuals.Keywords: carotid atherosclerosis, obesity, bioinformatics, unsupervised clustering analysis, machine learning model, calcium signaling pathwayhttps://www.dovepress.com/identification-of-potential-diagnostic-biomarkers-of-carotid-atheroscl-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIRcarotid atherosclerosisobesitybioinformaticsunsupervised clustering analysismachine learning modelcalcium signaling pathway
spellingShingle Wu X
Pan J
Pan X
Kang J
Ren J
Huang Y
Gong L
Li Y
Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Obese Populations
Journal of Inflammation Research
carotid atherosclerosis
obesity
bioinformatics
unsupervised clustering analysis
machine learning model
calcium signaling pathway
title Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Obese Populations
title_full Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Obese Populations
title_fullStr Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Obese Populations
title_full_unstemmed Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Obese Populations
title_short Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Obese Populations
title_sort identification of potential diagnostic biomarkers of carotid atherosclerosis in obese populations
topic carotid atherosclerosis
obesity
bioinformatics
unsupervised clustering analysis
machine learning model
calcium signaling pathway
url https://www.dovepress.com/identification-of-potential-diagnostic-biomarkers-of-carotid-atheroscl-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR
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