Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure

Abstract Background Sepsis is frequently combined with acute liver failure (ALF), a critical determinant in the mortality of septic patients. Pyroptosis is a significant form of programmed cell death that plays an important role in the inflammatory response. Research has been conducted to elucidate...

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Main Authors: Jing Yan, Yifeng Pan, Chaoqi Chen, Lijian Liu, Jinjing Tan, Juan Li, Liqun Li, Sheng Xie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Hereditas
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41065-025-00522-4
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author Jing Yan
Yifeng Pan
Chaoqi Chen
Lijian Liu
Jinjing Tan
Juan Li
Liqun Li
Sheng Xie
author_facet Jing Yan
Yifeng Pan
Chaoqi Chen
Lijian Liu
Jinjing Tan
Juan Li
Liqun Li
Sheng Xie
author_sort Jing Yan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Sepsis is frequently combined with acute liver failure (ALF), a critical determinant in the mortality of septic patients. Pyroptosis is a significant form of programmed cell death that plays an important role in the inflammatory response. Research has been conducted to elucidate the relationship between pyroptosis, sepsis, and ALF, but the mechanism of action remains unclear. Methods Datasets relating to sepsis and ALF were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The intersection of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pyroptosis-related genes for sepsis and ALF was identified. Simultaneously, a gene diagnosis model for sepsis and ALF was developed using machine learning, and the model’s accuracy was assessed through the plotting of the ROC curves and confusion matrix. The Hub genes identified by the model with an area under the curve (AUC) value ≥ 0.7 were used for the investigation of immune cell infiltration to explain the molecular mechanism of sepsis combined with ALF. The precise mechanism of action of these model genes in sepsis combined with ALF was evaluated through animal experiments. Results Machine learning revealed that GABARAP and ITCH may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for pyroptosis in sepsis combined with ALF. The examination of immune cell infiltration indicated that immune dysregulation is present in both sepsis and ALF and preliminarily suggested that GABARAP and ITCH may be pivotal in cellular immunity responses, particularly those mediated by T cells. Animal experiments further validated that in the process of sepsis combined with ALF, the expression level of GABARAP is elevated, while the expression level of ITCH is diminished. Conclusions We found GABARAP and ITCH may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for pyroptosis in sepsis combined with ALF, suggesting their potential involvement in the initiation and advancement of sepsis combined with ALF through cellular immunomodulatory pathways. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-5ff168e3fdec4c87b57b39c9a0798fcc2025-08-20T03:43:27ZengBMCHereditas1601-52232025-08-01162111810.1186/s41065-025-00522-4Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failureJing Yan0Yifeng Pan1Chaoqi Chen2Lijian Liu3Jinjing Tan4Juan Li5Liqun Li6Sheng Xie7Graduate School of Guangxi University of Chinese MedicineThe Eighth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineGraduate School of Guangxi University of Chinese MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese MedicineGraduate School of Guangxi University of Chinese MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Background Sepsis is frequently combined with acute liver failure (ALF), a critical determinant in the mortality of septic patients. Pyroptosis is a significant form of programmed cell death that plays an important role in the inflammatory response. Research has been conducted to elucidate the relationship between pyroptosis, sepsis, and ALF, but the mechanism of action remains unclear. Methods Datasets relating to sepsis and ALF were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The intersection of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pyroptosis-related genes for sepsis and ALF was identified. Simultaneously, a gene diagnosis model for sepsis and ALF was developed using machine learning, and the model’s accuracy was assessed through the plotting of the ROC curves and confusion matrix. The Hub genes identified by the model with an area under the curve (AUC) value ≥ 0.7 were used for the investigation of immune cell infiltration to explain the molecular mechanism of sepsis combined with ALF. The precise mechanism of action of these model genes in sepsis combined with ALF was evaluated through animal experiments. Results Machine learning revealed that GABARAP and ITCH may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for pyroptosis in sepsis combined with ALF. The examination of immune cell infiltration indicated that immune dysregulation is present in both sepsis and ALF and preliminarily suggested that GABARAP and ITCH may be pivotal in cellular immunity responses, particularly those mediated by T cells. Animal experiments further validated that in the process of sepsis combined with ALF, the expression level of GABARAP is elevated, while the expression level of ITCH is diminished. Conclusions We found GABARAP and ITCH may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for pyroptosis in sepsis combined with ALF, suggesting their potential involvement in the initiation and advancement of sepsis combined with ALF through cellular immunomodulatory pathways. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41065-025-00522-4SepsisAcute liver failurePyroptosisImmune cell infiltrationAnimal experimental validation
spellingShingle Jing Yan
Yifeng Pan
Chaoqi Chen
Lijian Liu
Jinjing Tan
Juan Li
Liqun Li
Sheng Xie
Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure
Hereditas
Sepsis
Acute liver failure
Pyroptosis
Immune cell infiltration
Animal experimental validation
title Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure
title_full Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure
title_fullStr Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure
title_full_unstemmed Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure
title_short Integrating bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure
title_sort integrating bioinformatics analysis machine learning and experimental validation to identify pyroptosis related genes in the diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute liver failure
topic Sepsis
Acute liver failure
Pyroptosis
Immune cell infiltration
Animal experimental validation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41065-025-00522-4
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