Exploring the ceRNA Network of Differentially Expressed lncRNAs in Gout: A Bioinformatics Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network associated with gout, and to investigate potential targets for diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Methodology: The GSE160170 dataset was downloaded from the GEO database, annotated, and gene attributes were added. Differential expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs between gout patients and non-gout patients was analyzed using R software. The miRNAs targeted by differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were predicted, and a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed to analyze the competing relationships between lncRNAs and mRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the molecular functions of mRNAs regulated by lncRNAs in the ceRNA network. Key mRNAs were identified by constructing protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and ROC curves, and their diagnostic efficacy was evaluated. Results: Ten differential lncRNAs were identified and analyzed using the ceRNA approach. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the mRNA regulated by differential lncRNAs was significantly enriched in protein phosphatase, DNA transcription factor binding activity, TNF pathway, and toll-like receptor-related pathway. Among the seven mRNAs with high diagnostic value identified through PPI and ROC curve analysis were BTG2, FOS, GATA2, JUN, MAPK6, and NAR4, which were the core genes of this study and have the potential to be used as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for gout. Additionally, five lncRNAs, including FAM182A, UCA1, MIR22HG, TTY10, and FAM215B, affected the expression of key mRNAs by adsorbing miRNAs such as hsa-miR-27a-3p and hsa-miR-1297, which may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of gout.