Bioinformatics Analysis of Key Genes and Pathways for Obesity Associated Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as a Therapeutic Target

Obesity associated type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. The prognosis of obesity associated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients has remained poor, though considerable efforts have been made to improve the treatment of this metabolic disorder. Therefore, identifying significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated in metabolic disorder advancement and exploiting them as new biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets for metabolic disorder is highly valuable. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out from gene expression omnibus (GEO) dataset (GSE132831) and subjected to GO and REACTOME pathway enrichment analyses. The protein - protein interactions network, module analysis, target gene - miRNA regulatory network and target gene - TF regulatory network were constructed, and the top ten hub genes were selected. The relative expression of hub genes was detected in RT-PCR. Furthermore, diagnostic value of hub genes in obesity associated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients was investigated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Small molecules were predicted for obesity associated type 2 diabetes mellitus by using molecular docking studies. A total of 872 DEGs, including 439 up regulated genes and 432 down regulated genes were observed. Second, functional enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs are mainly involved in the axon guidance, neutrophil degranulation, plasma membrane bounded cell projection organization and cell activation. The top ten hub genes (MYH9, FLNA, DCTN1, CLTC, ERBB2, TCF4, VIM, LRRK2, IFI16 and CAV1) could be utilized as potential diagnostic indicators for obesity associated type 2 diabetes mellitus. The hub genes were validated in obesity associated type 2 diabetes mellitus. This investigation found effective and reliable molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis by integrated bioinformatics analysis, suggesting new and key therapeutic targets for obesity associated type 2 diabetes mellitus.