Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial, complex autoimmune disease that involves various genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors. Systems biology approaches provide the means to study complex diseases by integrating different layers of biological information. Combining multiple data types can help compensate for missing or conflicting information and limit the possibility of false positives. In this work, we aim to unravel mechanisms governing the regulation of key transcription factors in RA and derive patient-specific models to gain more insights into the disease heterogeneity and the response to treatment. We first use publicly available transcriptomic datasets (peripheral blood) relative to RA and machine learning to create an RA-specific transcription factor (TF) co-regulatory network. The TF cooperativity network is subsequently enriched in signalling cascades and upstream regulators using a state-of-the-art, RA-specific molecular map. Then, the integrative network is used as a template to analyse patients’ data regarding their response to anti-TNF treatment and identify master regulators and upstream cascades affected by the treatment. Finally, we use the Boolean formalism to simulate in silico subparts of the integrated network and identify combinations and conditions that can switch on or off the identified TFs, mimicking the effects of single and combined perturbations.
MotivationRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. RA is considered a complex disease as it involves various genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors. Systems biology approaches provide the means to study complex diseases by integrating different layers of biological information. Combining multiple data types can help compensate for missing or conflicting information and limit the possibility of false positives. In this approach, we integrate three different biological layers (gene expression, signalling cascades, mutations), obtained by bottom-up and top-down methods to build an integrative, disease-specific network. The goal behind this endeavour is to see if we can unravel mechanisms governing the regulation of key genes identified as mutation carriers in RA and derive patient-specific models to gain more insights into the disease heterogeneity.ResultsIn this work, we combine biological data relevant to Rheumatoid Arthritis, in the form of a global, integrative network. We first make use of publicly available transcriptomic datasets (peripheral blood) relative to RA and machine learning to create an RA specific transcription factor (TF) co-regulatory network. The TF cooperativity network is subsequently enriched in signalling cascades and upstream regulators using prior knowledge encoded in a state-of-the-art, RA-specific molecular map. Lastly, a list of RA specific variants highlights key genes associated with known disease mutations.AvailabilityDatasets used for the analysis are publicly available. All scripts used to generate results and the Shiny app will be freely accessible after peer-reviewed publication.
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