Glycolysis Related Genes in Osteoporosis: Screening for Potential Prevention Targets

Abstract

Abstract Background Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder that globally affects more than 200 million people. Glycolysis seemingly important for bone resorption. We aimed to investigate glycolysis-related differentially expressed genes (GRDEGs) that might be potential targets for osteoporosis. Methods Differential expression analysis of GSE56815 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was performed. A Venn diagram was used to obtain the overlapping GRDEGs. The enrichment pathway analysis was performed and the hub genes were obtained. The abundance of immune cells was estimated utilizing the CIBERSORT algorithm. Results Utilizing the limma package and the Venn diagram, 154 GRDEGs were obtained. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of GRDEGs indicated several enriched terms related to regulation of JAK-STAT cascade and canonical glycolysis. As for GSEA enrichment analysis, they were significantly enriched in the NF_KB, glycolysis, Wnt and Hedgehog pathway. In the protein-protein interaction network, the hub differentially expressed genes, such as CTNNB1, HK3, MPI, HKDC1, PFKL, PTEN were obtained, which were correlated with the abundance of infiltrating T follicular helper cells. The hub genes MPI was significantly correlated with the invasion abundance of Macrophages M0 and Macrophages M2. Conclusion Our study reveals the potential role of GRDEGs in osteoporosis through bioinformatics analysis. The screened hub genes, CTNNB1, HK3, MPI, HKDC1, PFKL and PTEN might be therapeutic targets for patients with osteoporosis and novelly provide a theoretical basis for the early prevention of osteoporosis.