Comprehensive Analysis of Hub Genes, Biological Mechanism and Predicted Drugs Related to Iron Metabolism in β-Thalassemia

Abstract

Abstract Background: β-thalassemia is a common haemoglobinopathy. The pathogenesis is complex and has not been clearly elucidated, the present study provides possible references for the pathological mechanism of β-thalassemia related to iron metabolism, which sheds light on investigating potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of β-thalassemia. Methods: β-thalassemia disease patients samples and healthy controls samples were collected. Using LIMMA package to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Afterward, DEGs have been subjected to enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG pathways. The PPI networks and Hub genes were then created and visualized. Comprehensive analysis of expression, construction of mRNA-miRNA-transcription factor (TF) network and drugs prediction of these top 10 hub-genes were further carried out. Results: The micro array data of 12 samples of the GSE62431 showed 816 significant DEGs. Enrichment analysis showed terms related to iron metabolism. There exists a higher proportion of immune infiltration in healthy samples than β-thalassemia patients. 10 hub genes associated with both iron metabolism and β-thalassemia were identified. Finally, we have preliminarily achieved the identification, expression, construction of mRNA-miRNA-TF network and drugs Prediction of Hub-Genes Conclusion: There is a strong close relationship between β-thalassemia and iron metabolism. Iron-related genes have the potential to be a prognostic biomarker for β-thalassemia.