Evidence mapPaperPMID 37488473Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2023

Identification of key modules and driving genes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

Zhengmao Song, Yun Wang, Pingli Lin, Kaichun Yang, Xilin Jiang, Junchen Dong, Shangjin Xie, Rong Rao, Lishan Cui, Feng Liu and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Zhengmao Song *The Fifth Hospital of Xiamen & Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Yun Wang *The Fifth Hospital of Xiamen & Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Pingli Lin *The Fifth Hospital of Xiamen & Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Kaichun Yang *The Fifth Hospital of Xiamen & Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Xilin Jiang *Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Junchen DongSchool of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Shangjin XieXiang'an Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Rong RaoThe Fifth Hospital of Xiamen & Xiamen University, Xiamen, China. rongrao317@126.com.
Lishan CuiThe Fifth Hospital of Xiamen & Xiamen University, Xiamen, China. cuilishan3116@126.com.
Feng LiuThe Fifth Hospital of Xiamen & Xiamen University, Xiamen, China. liufeng@xmsdwyy.cn.
Xuefeng HuangZhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China. hxfzy2001@139.com.
First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University · CNXiamen University · CNZhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University · CN

Funding

The Guiding Medical and Health Projects of Xiamen 2019D027, 3502Z20224ZD1282, 3502Z20209225, 3502Z20209228, 3502Z20214ZD1257 and 3502Z20214ZD1326the Health Science Research Personnel Training Program of Fujian Province 2018-CXB-30
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive liver fat deposition, and progresses to liver cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the invasive diagnosis of NAFLD with histopathological evaluation remains risky. This study investigated potential genes correlated with NAFLD, which may serve as diagnostic biomarkers and even potential treatment targets.

methodsThe weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was constructed based on dataset E-MEXP-3291. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to evaluate the function of genes.

resultsBlue module was positively correlated, and turquoise module negatively correlated with the severity of NAFLD. Furthermore, 8 driving genes (ANXA9, FBXO2, ORAI3, NAGS, C/EBPα, CRYAA, GOLM1, TRIM14) were identified from the overlap of genes in blue module and GSE89632. And another 8 driving genes were identified from the overlap of turquoise module and GSE89632. Among these driving genes, C/EBPα (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α) was the most notable. By validating the expression of C/EBPα in the liver of NAFLD mice using immunohistochemistry, we discovered a significant upregulation of C/EBPα protein in NAFLD.

conclusionwe identified two modules and 16 driving genes associated with the progression of NAFLD, and confirmed the protein expression of C/EBPα, which had been paid little attention to in the context of NAFLD, in the present study. Our study will advance the understanding of NAFLD. Moreover, these driving genes may serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets of NAFLD.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsNon-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseAnimalsGene Expression ProfilingMiceBioinformatics analysisC/EBPαNAFLDWGCNA

Identifiers

PMID37488473
PMCPMC10364401
OpenAlexW4385201375

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.