Gene coexpression network analysis identified potential biomarkers in gestational diabetes mellitus progression

Abstract

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common problems during pregnancy. Lack of international consistent diagnostic procedures has limit improvement of current therapeutic effectiveness. Here, we aimed to screen potential gene biomarkers that might play vital roles in GDM progression for assistance of its diagnostic and treatment. Methods Gene expression profiles in four GDM placentae at first trimester, four GDM placentae at second trimester, and four normal placentae were obtained from the publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) indicated two gene modules, that is, black and brown module, that was significantly positively and negatively correlated with GDM progression time points, respectively. Additionally, a significant positive correlation between module membership (MM) and degree in protein–protein interaction network of brown module genes was observed. Results KIF2C, CENPE, CCNA2, AURKB, MAD2L1, CCNB2, CDC20, PLK1, CCNB1, and CDK1 all have degree larger than 50 and MM larger than 0.9, so they might be valuable biomarkers in GDM. Gene set enrichment analysis inferred tight relations between carbohydrate metabolism or steroid biosynthesis‐related processes and GDM progression. Conclusions All in all, our study should provide several novel references for GDM diagnosis and therapeutic.

Effects of Shenkang Pills on Early-Stage Diabetic Nephropathy in db/db Mice via Inhibiting AURKB/RacGAP1/RhoA Signaling Pathway

“…AURKB promotes survival of cancer cells by cell cycle progression with phosphorylating a series of downstream substrates, including RacGAP1 . A study of gene coexpression network analysis identified that AURKB might be valuable biomarkers of gestational diabetes mellitus (Zhao and Li, 2019). Our results of the network pharmacology analysis also revealed that AURKB was targeted by eight components in SKP and interacted with many other proteins.…”

Placental gene network modules are associated with maternal stress during pregnancy and infant temperament

“…A study by Deyssenroth et al 26 based on 200 placenta samples observed 17 modules, while another study by Buckberry et al based on 16 samples observed 13 modules. 27 Two other studies used microarray data: 33 modules reported by Zhao et al 28 after analysis of a previously deposited dataset of 16 samples; 17 modules reported by Cox et al 29 These differences in the number of modules reported across these studies maybe driven by study considerations (sample size, platform, etc) as well as true complexity in placental gene activity. The number of modules identified in our study falls within the range reported in the literature, and the enriched pathways are consistent with what are previously reported.…”

Mitochondrial dysfunction in placental trophoblast cells experiencing gestational diabetes mellitus

“…As with hPL, the observed results may be because the proposed changes in hormone synthesis are not evident in the term placenta. Recent findings have demonstrated, via gene set enrichment analysis, that GDM placental gene expression profiles from the first and second trimesters of pregnancy had a significant upregulation of steroidogenic pathways (Zhao & Li, 2019). Additionally, elevated plasma progesterone levels have been reported during the second trimester in women who developed GDM (Ngala et al .…”