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Mast Cells and Plasma Possible Markers for Alopecia Areata and Periodontitis
According to a study published in International Immunopharmacology, mast cells could serve as markers for alopecia areata (AA) while plasma may indicate periodontitis (PD).
Researchers aimed to delve into the connection between AA and PD, medical conditions that have shown potential links but lack a comprehensive understanding of their underlying mechanisms. The researchers conducted an extensive investigation to explore this association further.
To conduct their research, the scientists gathered data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, which provided datasets related to both AA and PD. They employed a range of analytical methods, including the analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), functional enrichment analysis, the construction of protein-protein interaction networks, and the use of cytoHubba and random forest algorithms. These methods helped identify potential hub immuno-related genes (IRGs) that could be utilized for diagnosing AA in patients with PD. The diagnostic accuracy of these IRGs was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves.
The analysis revealed 899 DEGs associated with AA and 803 DEGs related to PD, with an overlap of 150 DEGs that were involved in immune regulation. Further examination of these shared DEGs and IRGs led to the identification of 3 hub genes: CTSS, IL2RG, and ITGAL. These genes showed promising diagnostic potential, with area under the curve values ranging from 0.776 to 0.909 for diagnosing AA in individuals with PD. Additionally, the researchers employed various techniques, including immune cell infiltration analysis, flow cytometry assays, and immunofluorescence methods, to investigate immune cell dysregulation in both AA and PD. Their findings suggested that mast cells could serve as potential markers for AA, while plasma levels may indicate the presence of PD.
“Our research has the potential to identify shared diagnostic candidate genes and immune cells for AA and PD patients,” the authors concluded.
Reference
Wang H, Wei R, Deng T, Zhang J, Shen Z. Identifying immuno-related diagnostic genes and immune infiltration signatures for periodontitis and alopecia areata. Int Immunopharmacol. Published online September 15, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110880
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