Identification of Key eRNAs for Spinal Cord Injury by Integrated Multinomial Bioinformatics Analysis

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition that affects people worldwide, and the role of enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) in SCI is not well understood. This study aims to investigate the roles of key eRNAs, transcription factors, signaling pathways, and small-molecule inhibitors in SCI using multi-omics bioinformatics analysis. The researchers used microarray data from healthy volunteers and SCI patients to identify differentially expressed transcription factors (DETFs), enhancer RNAs (DEeRNAs), and target genes (DETGs). They also used computational methods to estimate immune cell fractions and identify downstream signaling pathways. The study identified a regulatory network involving specific transcription factors, eRNAs, target genes, and signaling pathways. One key finding was the link between SFPQ (TF) and VOPP1 (eRNA), which appears to play a role in the transient expression of EGFR.

• 1
  Identified 21 DETFs, 24 DEeRNAs, and 829 DETGs in SCI patients compared to healthy controls.
• 2
  Constructed a regulatory network linking 13 DETFs, six DEeRNAs, seven DETGs, two hallmark pathways, two immune cells, and six immune pathways.
• 3
  Discovered that VOPP1, upregulated by SFPQ, strengthened the transient expression of EGFR, with Th cells and coagulation as potential downstream pathways.