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. 2024 Oct 25;103(43):e40229.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000040229.

Identification and validation of novel genes related to immune microenvironment in polycystic ovary syndrome

Affiliations

Identification and validation of novel genes related to immune microenvironment in polycystic ovary syndrome

Yuemeng Zhao et al. Medicine (Baltimore). .

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most complicated chronic inflammatory diseases in women of reproductive age and is one of the primary factors responsible for infertility. There is substantial dispute relating to the pathophysiology of PCOS. Consequently, there is a critical need for further research to identify the factors underlying the pathophysiology of PCOS. Three transcriptome profiles of granulosa cells from patients with PCOS and normal controls were obtained from the gene expression integration database. We also obtained relevant microarrays of granulocytes prepared from PCOS patients and normal controls from the gene expression integration database. Then, we used the R package to perform correlations and identify differences between PCOS and normal controls with regard to immune infiltrating cells and functionality. Subsequently, intersecting genes were identified and risk models were constructed. Finally, the results were validated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and real-time PCR. We identified 8 genes related to cuproptosis (SLC31A1, PDHB, PDHA1, DLST, DLD, DLAT, DBT, and ATP7A) and 5 genes related to m7G (SNUPN, NUDT16, GEMIN5, DCPS, and EIF4E3) that were associated with immune infiltration. Furthermore, the expression levels of DLAT (P = .049) and NUDT16 (P = .024) differed significantly between the PCOS patients and normal controls, as revealed by multifactorial analysis. Both DLAT and NUDT16 were negatively correlated with immune cell expression and function and expression levels were significantly lower in the PCOS group. Finally, real-time PCR and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that the expression levels of DLAT and NUDT16 were significantly reduced in the granulosa cells of PCOS patients. In conclusion, our findings shed fresh light on the roles of immune infiltration, cuproptosis, and m7G alternations in PCOS. We also provide a reliable biomarker for the pathological classification of PCOS patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The analytic workflow of the present study.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Immunoinfiltration analysis. (A) Classification heat map of immune cells and immune function. (B) Immunocyte correlation analysis. (C) Correlation analysis of immune function. (D) Difference of immune cell expression between PCOS group and normal group. (E) Difference of immune function between PCOS group and normal group. (1 Immune cells (imc); 2 immune function (imf); 3 ns. P ≥ .05, *P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001.)
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Correlation analysis with immune cells and immune function. (A) Correlation analysis of m7G-related genes with immune cells and immune function. (B) Correlation analysis of cuproptosis-related genes with immune cells and immune function.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Establishment of nomogram and ROC and their forecast performance. (A) Nomogram for predicting pathogenic factors of MIGs. (B) Nomogram for predicting pathogenic factors of CIGs. (C) Calibration curves of nomogram to ascertain the prediction of MIGs. (D) Calibration curves of nomogram to ascertain the prediction of CIGs. (E) ROC curve shows the risk of disease forecast probability through MIGs in detail. (F) ROC curve shows the risk of disease forecast probability through CIGs in detail.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
GO analysis and KEGG analysis. (A) GO and KEGG analysis of MIGs. (B) GO and KEGG analysis of CIGs.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Experimental verification of NUDT16 and DLAT. (A) RT-PCR of NUDT16 and DLAT. (B) ELISA of NUDT16 and DLAT.

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