Transcriptomic analysis reveals the lipid metabolism-related gene regulatory characteristics and potential therapeutic agents for myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Impaired energy balance caused by lipid metabolism dysregulation is an essential mechanism of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI). This study aims to explore the lipid metabolism-related gene (LMRG) expression patterns in MI/RI and to find potential therapeutic agents.

METHODS: Differential expression analysis was performed to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and LMRGs in the MI/RI-related dataset GSE61592. Enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses were performed to identify the key signaling pathways and genes. The expression trends of key LMRGs were validated by external datasets GSE160516 and GSE4105. The corresponding online databases predicted miRNAs, transcription factors (TFs), and potential therapeutic agents targeting key LMRGs. Finally, the identified LMRGs were confirmed in the H9C2 cell hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) model and the mouse MI/RI model.

RESULTS: Enrichment analysis suggested that the "lipid metabolic process" was one of the critical pathways in MI/RI. Further differential expression analysis and PPI analysis identified 120 differentially expressed LMRGs and 15 key LMRGs. 126 miRNAs, 55 TFs, and 51 therapeutic agents were identified targeting these key LMRGs. Lastly, the expression trends of Acadm, Acadvl, and Suclg1 were confirmed by the external datasets, the H/R model and the MI/RI model.

CONCLUSION: Acadm, Acadvl, and Suclg1 may be the key genes involved in the MI/RI-related lipid metabolism dysregulation; and acting upon these factors may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy.