Exploring the Core Genes of Schizophrenia Based on Bioinformatics Analysis

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a clinical syndrome composed of a group of symptoms involving many obstacles such as perception, thinking, emotion, behavior, and the disharmony of mental activities. Schizophrenia is one of the top ten causes of disability globally, accounting for about 1% of the global population. Previous studies have shown that schizophrenia has solid genetic characteristics. However, the diagnosis of schizophrenia mainly depends on symptomatic manifestations, and no gene can be used as a clear diagnostic marker at present. This study explored the hub genes of schizophrenia by bioinformatics analysis. Three datasets were selected and downloaded from the GEO database (GSE53987, GSE21138, and GSE27383). GEO2R, NCBI’s online analysis tool, is used to screen out significant gene expression differences. The genes were functionally enriched by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. On this basis, the hub genes were explored through Cytoscape software, and the immune infiltration analysis and diagnostic value of the screened hub genes were judged. Finally, four hub genes (NFKBIA, CDKN1A, BTG2, GADD45B) were screened. There was a significant correlation between two hub genes (NFKBIA, BTG2) and resting memory CD4 T cells. The ROC curve results showed that all four hub genes had diagnostic value.