Identification of biological processes and genes for gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Aim: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most usual complications of pregnancy, while the correlations between genes and their known biological processes need to be further elucidated. Methods: In the current study, microarray data GSE2956 containing a list of 435 significantly modified genes (differentially expressed genes, DEGs) were used. Genes that correspond to official gene symbols were chosen and were functional annotated for Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analyses (p ≤ 0.05). Then, the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and the sub network were constructed and analyzed (combined score ≥0.4). Results: A total of 405 DEGs including 239 up-regulated and 166 down-regulated genes were screened, and they were found mainly related to adhesion and motion, stimulus–response, and wound healing, etc. Besides, a PPI network containing 217 nodes and 644 lines was obtained. Hub genes including fibronectin 1 (FN1) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) were down-regulated, and leptin (LEP) and calmodulin 1 (CALM1) were up-regulated. Three modules in the PPI network were mined and similar functional terms enriched by DEGs of these modules were obtained. Conclusion: GO terms relevant to translation and metabolic process and their related genes CREB1, ribosomal proteins and LEP, still the inflammation-related proteins (e.g., IGF1 and CALM1) and cell adhesion-related protein FN1 may work together and be essential for GDM. This study provides insight into the cooperative interactions of metabolism and immune responses and the pathogenesis of GDM.