Identification the hub genes of immune cells related to heart failure by WGCNA

Abstract Objective To search the potential diagnostic markers of heart failure and analyze the correlation between them and immune cell infiltration by WGCNA. Methods The expression matrices GSE57338 and GSE116250 related to heart failure were downloaded from the GEO database, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in heart failure were screened by Limma package, and the WGCNA output module genes; the CIBERSORT algorithm was used to evaluate the type of immune cell infiltration in heart failure; The immune gene, module gene and differential gene were intersected to determine the intersection gene, and then GO and KEGG enrichment analysis was performed. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed via the online website STRING and Cytascape software, and the hub genes were screened. Finally, R software was used to analyze the differential expression of the hub gene and its correlation with differential immune cells. Results A total of 549 DEGs were obtained in this study, and the number of monocytes in patients with heart failure decreased; The intersection of monocyte-related genes with DEGs and module differential genes was determined to 117 intersection genes. The PPI network and algorithm analysis were constructed to obtain four hub genes (COL14A1, COL16A1, HTRA1 and SOS1). The levels of COL14A1, COL16A1 and HTRA1 increased in HF, which was negatively correlated with monocytes. The level of SOS1 decreased in HF, which was positively correlated with monocytes. Conclusion Four hub genes (COL14A1, COL16A1, HTRA1 and SOS1) are associated with monocytes and can be used as diagnostic markers of heart failure, and immune cell infiltration plays an important role in the occurrence and development of heart failure.