m6A-related genes of peripheral white blood cell in spinal cord injury as potential targets for prognosis and treatment

TL;DR

This study identifies m6A-related genes in white blood cells that could help predict spinal cord injury severity and guide treatment.

Contribution

The study introduces m6A-related genes as potential prognostic and therapeutic targets for spinal cord injury.

Findings

289 SCI-related and five m6A-related candidate genes were identified with high correlation to SCI.

PPARG expression in white blood cells correlates with SCI severity, while AK5 expression is lower.

Immune cell infiltration and interactions decrease over time after SCI.

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a destructive neurological and pathological state that causes major motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a reversible RNA modification implicated in various biological processes. However, few studies have examined m6A expression in patients with SCI. We explored the prognostic value of m6A-related genes as potential biomarkers in SCI to establish a set of accurate diagnostic and prognostic prediction models.

Differentially expressed analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to explore m6a related modules and hub genes. KEGG and GO analyses was utilized to explore the potential role of these hub genes. Gene expression was verified in single-cell data. The correlation of m6A related gene with spinal cord injury severity was explored.

We found 289 SCI-related and five m6A-related candidate genes with high SCI correlation and high differential expression in the publicly available dataset, GSE151371. These genes are also involved in long-chain fatty acid binding. Early SCI was accompanied by significant immune cell infiltration. Simultaneously, infiltrating immune cells and the innate immune system have a strong cellular interaction, which gradually decreases over time. The number of PPARG-positive cells also increases after SCI. The comparatively higher expression of PPARG and lower expression of AK5 in white blood cells (WBCs) correlates with severity of SCI.

Our integrated analysis illustrates the hub genes involved in SCI, which can be prognostic markers. Further understanding of the functions of the identified SCI hub genes may provide deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms of SCI.

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