Identifying PTAFR as a hub gene in atherosclerosis: implications for NETosis and disease progression

Abstract Background Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) may be actively involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Identifying key biomarkers in this process is essential for developing targeted treatments for AS. Methods We...

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Main Authors: Chaowen Ye, Yunli Zhao, Wei Yu, Rongzhong Huang, Tianyang Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Human Genomics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-024-00708-3
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author Chaowen Ye
Yunli Zhao
Wei Yu
Rongzhong Huang
Tianyang Hu
author_facet Chaowen Ye
Yunli Zhao
Wei Yu
Rongzhong Huang
Tianyang Hu
author_sort Chaowen Ye
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) may be actively involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Identifying key biomarkers in this process is essential for developing targeted treatments for AS. Methods We performed bioinformatics analysis using a NETosis-related gene (NRGs) set and three AS datasets (GSE100927, GSE21545, and GSE159677). Differential expression analysis and machine learning techniques (random forest and SVM-RFE) were used to screen for key NRGs. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted using GO and KEGG pathways. The expression and role of PTAFR and NETs in the mouse AS model were validated through histology, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis. The regulatory relationship between PTAFR and NETs was confirmed by siRNA and antagonist intervention targeting PTAFR. Results We identified 24 differentially expressed NRGs in AS. Random Forest and SVM-RFE analyses highlighted PTAFR as a key gene. Prognostic analysis revealed PTAFR significantly impacts ischemic events in AS patients. WB and immunofluorescence confirmed increased levels of NETs and PTAFR in the mouse AS model. Single-cell analysis, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence revealed that PTAFR is primarily distributed in macrophages and neutrophils. Cellular experiments further confirmed that PTAFR regulates NETs formation. Conclusion PTAFR is an important regulatory factor for NET formation in AS, influencing the progression and prognosis of atherosclerosis. Targeting PTAFR may provide new therapeutic strategies for AS.
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spelling doaj-art-d264da2668544ec883d470d0beb5eeb92025-08-20T01:57:16ZengBMCHuman Genomics1479-73642024-12-0118111410.1186/s40246-024-00708-3Identifying PTAFR as a hub gene in atherosclerosis: implications for NETosis and disease progressionChaowen Ye0Yunli Zhao1Wei Yu2Rongzhong Huang3Tianyang Hu4Precision Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityPrecision Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityPrecision Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityPrecision Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityPrecision Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityAbstract Background Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) may be actively involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Identifying key biomarkers in this process is essential for developing targeted treatments for AS. Methods We performed bioinformatics analysis using a NETosis-related gene (NRGs) set and three AS datasets (GSE100927, GSE21545, and GSE159677). Differential expression analysis and machine learning techniques (random forest and SVM-RFE) were used to screen for key NRGs. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted using GO and KEGG pathways. The expression and role of PTAFR and NETs in the mouse AS model were validated through histology, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis. The regulatory relationship between PTAFR and NETs was confirmed by siRNA and antagonist intervention targeting PTAFR. Results We identified 24 differentially expressed NRGs in AS. Random Forest and SVM-RFE analyses highlighted PTAFR as a key gene. Prognostic analysis revealed PTAFR significantly impacts ischemic events in AS patients. WB and immunofluorescence confirmed increased levels of NETs and PTAFR in the mouse AS model. Single-cell analysis, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence revealed that PTAFR is primarily distributed in macrophages and neutrophils. Cellular experiments further confirmed that PTAFR regulates NETs formation. Conclusion PTAFR is an important regulatory factor for NET formation in AS, influencing the progression and prognosis of atherosclerosis. Targeting PTAFR may provide new therapeutic strategies for AS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-024-00708-3AtherosclerosisNETosisNETsPTAFRCardiovascular diseases
spellingShingle Chaowen Ye
Yunli Zhao
Wei Yu
Rongzhong Huang
Tianyang Hu
Identifying PTAFR as a hub gene in atherosclerosis: implications for NETosis and disease progression
Human Genomics
Atherosclerosis
NETosis
NETs
PTAFR
Cardiovascular diseases
title Identifying PTAFR as a hub gene in atherosclerosis: implications for NETosis and disease progression
title_full Identifying PTAFR as a hub gene in atherosclerosis: implications for NETosis and disease progression
title_fullStr Identifying PTAFR as a hub gene in atherosclerosis: implications for NETosis and disease progression
title_full_unstemmed Identifying PTAFR as a hub gene in atherosclerosis: implications for NETosis and disease progression
title_short Identifying PTAFR as a hub gene in atherosclerosis: implications for NETosis and disease progression
title_sort identifying ptafr as a hub gene in atherosclerosis implications for netosis and disease progression
topic Atherosclerosis
NETosis
NETs
PTAFR
Cardiovascular diseases
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-024-00708-3
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AT rongzhonghuang identifyingptafrasahubgeneinatherosclerosisimplicationsfornetosisanddiseaseprogression
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