Bioinformatics Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in Children with Crohn's Disease

OBJECTIVE To investigate the differentially expressed genes of children's Crohn's disease(CD) by the bioinformatics method, providing a new idea for elucidating the pathogenesis and intervention targets of CD in children. METHODS The gene expression dataset GSE9686 related to CD was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO). The online analysis tool GEO2R was used to screen the DEGs of CD colon tissue and normal colon tissue in children. The GO function annotation and KEGG pathway analysis were performed on the DEGs using the database DAVID. The protein-protein interaction network(PPI) analysis was performed using the STRING database, and the key genes of CD in children were screened using Cytoscape. RESULTS Eighty-five DEGs were obtained in Crohn's disease, including 63 up-regulated genes and 22 down-regulated genes. GO analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched in chemo`kine activity, chemokine receptor binding, extracellular space, extracellular region, chemokine-mediated signaling pathway and inflammatory response, and KEGG analysis revealed DEGs were mainly enriched in Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Chemokine signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway. Fifteen key genes were obtained by Cytoscape, and all of them were up-regulated in CD children. CONCLUSION The comprehensive analysis of DEGs between CD colonic tissue and normal colon tissue in children using bioinformatics can provide a new theoretical basis for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of CD in children.