Bioinformatic gene analysis for potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of heart fibrillation and stroke

Abstract

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality. Additionally, HF is also a potent and persistent risk factor for ischemic stroke. We studied co-expressed genes to understand relationships between HF and stroke and reveal potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of HF-related stroke. Methods HF- and stroke-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and lncRNAs (DELs), were identified via bioinformatic analysis Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets GSE76701 and GSE58294, respectively. Subsequently, extensive target prediction and network analyses methods were used to assess protein–protein interaction (PPI) and ceRNA networks, Gene Ontology (GO) terms and KEGG pathway enrichment for DEGs, and the function and expression of the co-expressed DEGs coupled with corresponding predicted miRNAs involved in HF and stroke were assessed. Results We identified 384 DEGs and 45 DELs in the left ventricle specimens of HF patients, respectively. Meanwhile, 884 DEGs and 266 DELs were identified in the blood samples of patients with stroke. Subsequently, 21 co-expressed DEGs and two co-expressed DELs (MALAT1 and GABPB1-AS1) may be significantly associated with HF-related stroke. Through the eDGAR online dataset, only ESR1 among 21 co-DEGs was related to myocardial infarction. Conclusion ESR1 is significantly associated with novel biomarkers involved in HF-related stroke, and may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for disease.