Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes and Protein-Protein Interaction in Patients With COVID-19 and Diabetes Peripheral Neuropathy: A Bioinformatics and System Biology Approach

TL;DR

This study identifies genes and protein interactions linked to severe outcomes in patients with both COVID-19 and diabetes-related nerve damage.

Contribution

The study integrates transcriptomic data and system biology to uncover shared gene patterns and potential drug targets in comorbid patients.

Findings

Common differentially expressed genes were identified between COVID-19 and diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients.

Functional analysis revealed key biological pathways and potential therapeutic targets.

Hub genes and regulatory networks were determined through PPI network analysis.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact globally, resulting in a higher death toll and persistent health issues for survivors, particularly those with pre-existing medical conditions. Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between catastrophic COVID-19 results and diabetes. To gain deeper insights, we analysed the transcriptome dataset from COVID-19 and diabetic peripheral neuropathic patients. Using the R programming language, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and classified based on up and down regulations. The overlaps of DEGs were then explored between these groups. Functional annotation of those common DEGs was performed using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Bio-Planet, Reactome, and Wiki pathways. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created with bioinformatics tools to understand molecular interactions. Through topological analysis of the PPI network, we determined hub gene modules and explored gene regulatory networks (GRN). Furthermore, the study extended to suggesting potential drug molecules for the identified mutual DEG based on the comprehensive analysis. These approaches may contribute to understanding the molecular intricacies of COVID-19 in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients through insights into potential therapeutic interventions.

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