The shared molecular mechanism of spinal cord injury and sarcopenia: a comprehensive genomics analysis

Frontiers in Neurology, 2024 · DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1373605 · Published: August 30, 2024

Simple Explanation

This study explores the shared molecular mechanisms between spinal cord injury (SCI) and sarcopenia, a condition characterized by loss of muscle mass and function. By analyzing gene expression data, the researchers aimed to identify common biomarkers that could help in diagnosing and predicting outcomes for patients with both conditions. The researchers analyzed several datasets to identify genes that are differentially expressed in both SCI and sarcopenia. They then constructed protein-protein interaction networks and identified key 'hub genes' that play a central role in these networks. These hub genes were further validated and analyzed to understand their biological functions and potential as diagnostic markers. The study identified three hub genes - DCN, FSTL1, and COL12A1 - that were significantly altered in patients with both sarcopenia and SCI. Further analysis revealed that these genes are involved in muscle regeneration, immune cell infiltration, and other biological processes relevant to both conditions. The findings suggest that these genes could potentially be used to diagnose and monitor the effectiveness of rehabilitation training.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Multiple datasets analyzed, including SCI patients, sarcopenia patients, and healthy controls

Evidence Level

Original Research

Key Findings

1
Three hub genes (DCN, FSTL1, and COL12A1) were identified as significantly altered in sarcopenic SCI patients both before and after rehabilitation training.
2
The three hub genes were also significantly expressed in the fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) clusters, which play a crucial role in muscle homeostasis and regeneration.
3
Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed significant correlations between the hub genes and specific immune cell types, such as macrophages and neutrophils, in both SCI and sarcopenia datasets.

Research Summary

This study aimed to identify shared molecular mechanisms between spinal cord injury (SCI) and sarcopenia through comprehensive genomics analysis, focusing on potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. The researchers identified three hub genes (DCN, FSTL1, and COL12A1) that were significantly altered in patients with both SCI and sarcopenia, and validated their expression patterns across multiple datasets. The study provides insights into muscle changes after SCI associated with sarcopenia, including immune infiltration landscape and pseudotime change, suggesting the identified hub genes could be used to distinguish the sarcopenia state at the genomic level and evaluate rehabilitation training efficiency.

Practical Implications

Diagnostic potential

The identified hub genes (DCN, FSTL1, and COL12A1) could serve as potential diagnostic markers for sarcopenia in patients with SCI.

Prognostic value

These hub genes may also have prognostic value in evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation training in SCI patients with sarcopenia.

Therapeutic targets

Understanding the role of these hub genes in muscle regeneration and immune response could lead to the development of targeted therapies to improve muscle health in SCI patients.

Study Limitations

1
The study used microarray datasets or bulk-RNA seq datasets where patients with SCI are not formally diagnosed with sarcopenia.
2
Clinical information is lacking in many datasets, making it difficult to find exact evidence and correlations between the hub genes and clinical features.
3
Larger sample sizes are needed to validate the value of hub genes and clinical correlations.

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