Bioinformatics analysis identifies TGF-β signaling pathway-associated molecular subtypes and gene signature in diabetic foot
Guanggang Du,
Jie Chen,
Xuezhu Zhu,
Zongdong Zhu
Affiliations
Guanggang Du
Department of Burn and Wound Repair, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
Jie Chen
Department of Burn and Wound Repair, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
Xuezhu Zhu
Department of Burn and Wound Repair, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China; Corresponding author
Zongdong Zhu
Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China; Department of Orthopaedics, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China; Corresponding author
Summary: The role of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in inflammation and immune response is established, but the mechanism of TGF-β signaling pathway-related genes (TRGs) in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the contribution of TRGs in the identification, molecular categorization, and immune infiltration of DFU through bioinformatics analysis. TGF-β signaling pathway is activated in DFU. 33 TRGs were upregulated. Regression analysis revealed TGFBR1 and TGFB1 as significant differential expression core genes, validated by quantitative real-time PCR. The diagnostic model with core genes had high clinical validity (AUC = 0.909). Core gene expression was associated with immune cell infiltration. A total of 5672 genes showed differential expression in TGF-related patterns, with differences in biological functions and immune infiltration. TGF-β signaling pathway may be critical in DFU development.
