Common biomarkers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and systemic sclerosis based on WGCNA and machine learning
2025

Common biomarkers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and systemic sclerosis

Sample size: 176 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ning Shan, Shang Yu, He Yaowu, Wen Zhe, Ning Shangwei, Chen Hong

Primary Institution: Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China

Hypothesis

The study aims to identify common biomarkers and mechanisms between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Conclusion

CCL2 was identified as a common biomarker for both IPF and SSc, revealing shared mechanisms and potential treatment directions.

Supporting Evidence

  • CCL2 was identified as a common characteristic gene for both IPF and SSc.
  • Statistical analyses showed that CCL2 expression was negatively correlated with lung function in IPF patients.
  • CCL2 expression decreased after treatment with mycophenolate mofetil in SSc patients.

Takeaway

Researchers found a gene called CCL2 that is important for two lung diseases, helping us understand how they are connected and how to treat them.

Methodology

The study used weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), protein-protein interaction analysis, survival analysis, and machine learning methods on datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Potential Biases

The study's reliance on existing datasets may introduce biases related to sample selection and data quality.

Limitations

The study relied on public datasets and lacked clinical data, with some datasets having small sample sizes.

Participant Demographics

The study included 176 IPF patients and 113 SSc patients, with a mix of healthy controls.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p=0.0133

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/s41598-024-84820-3

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