Identification of crosstalk and immune related genes between Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis and construction of the ceRNA Network

Abstract

Background and Objectives Our investigation intended to explore the association of immune regulatory factors between PD and RA. Methods The PD and RA expression data were obtained from GEO database. The differentially expressed mRNAs(DEGs) were identified and significant modules on both diseases were selected by WGCNA. Four key genes were analyzed by the ROC, gene correlation and external datasets. Single gene GSEA was used to conduct a functional enrichment analysis. The ceRNA networks were established. CIBERSOFT algorithm and Toxicogenomics analysis were performed to show the difference and similarity between both diseases. Results Four key genes (IL10RA, RAC2, BTK and CD48) were identified. Two target miRNAs of key genes, hsa-miR-1271-5p and hsa-let-7e-5p, were analyzed to build 9 lncRNA- 2 miRNA- 4 genes ceRNA networks on PD and 16 lncRNA-2 miRNA-4 genes ceRNA network on RA. Four key genes represented a higher diagnostic accuracy and higher correction with each other on both diseases. GSEA result expressed key genes were involved in different pathways on both disease. The similarity and difference in the immunocytes infiltration levels of PD and RA were observed. Conclusions We identified four key genes and built ceRNA networks separately. Our study attempted to elaborate the common immune related mechanism of association between PD and RA.