2. Academic Validation
  3. Integrative analysis of genes provides insights into the molecular and immune characteristics of mitochondria-related genes in atherosclerosis

Integrative analysis of genes provides insights into the molecular and immune characteristics of mitochondria-related genes in atherosclerosis

  • Genomics. 2025 Feb 4;117(2):111013. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.111013.
Zhipeng Zheng 1,  Huimin Lu 1,  Xiaowen Wang 2,  Zhiyuan Yang 3,  Yubin Zhang 3,  Kaiyuan Li 3,  Cheng Shen 1,  Zhifeng Yin 4,  Min Sha 5,  Jun Ye 6,  Li Zhu 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China.
  • 2 Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
  • 3 Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China.
  • 4 Jiangsu Hanjiang Biotechnology Co., LTD, Taizhou 225300, China.
  • 5 The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China. Electronic address: 408164123@qq.com.
  • 6 The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China. Electronic address: dingyinglinyejun@126.com.
  • 7 The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China; Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China. Electronic address: tzheartchina@126.com.
PMID: 39914597 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.111013
Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by lipid accumulation in arterial walls. The role of the interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction and immune inflammation in atherosclerosis is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics and immune landscape of mitochondrial hub genes involved in atherosclerosis. Based on bioinformatics analysis, three hub Mitochondria-related DEGs (MitoDEGs), including OXCT1, UCP2, and CPT1B, were screened out and showed good diagnostic performance in identifying atherosclerosis patients and controls. Immune analysis demonstrated strong correlations between hub MitoDEGs and immune cells, such as macrophages and T cells. Additionally, the predicted transcription factors of these hub MitoDEGs were significantly enriched in Th17, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation signaling pathways. Both cell and animal experiments confirmed the expression trends of OXCT1 and CPT1B observed in the bioinformatics analysis. These hub MitoDEGs may play an important role in coordinating Mitochondrial Metabolism in the immune inflammation of atherosclerosis.

Keywords

Atherosclerosis; Bioinformatics; Immune cell; Mitochondria.

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