Original Article
Toxic effects of long-term pesticides exposure and key gene discovery
Jiang Binjie, Dou Jianrui, Han Lei, Zhang Hengdong, Zhang Feng, Liu Xin
Published 2022-09-20
Cite as Chin Ind Hyg Occup Dis, 2022, 40(9): 641-648. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20210719-00359
Abstract
ObjectiveBioinformatics methods were used to mine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched signal pathways induced by chronic pesticide exposure, and explore its potential pathogenic mechanisms and key genes.
MethodsIn July 2021, high-throughput gene expression profile data related to pesticide toxicity was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to obtain DEGs. The samples were from American male farm workers who had been exposed to pesticides for a long time and other industry workers. The functional enrichment analysis of GO, KEGG and Geme Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were performed by R package clusterProfiler. STRING, Cytoscape and other tools were applied to construct and visualize the protein interaction network. With the help of MCODE and Cytohubba plugins, gene function modules were obtained, and hub gene was screened out.
Results189 DEGs were screened from GSE30335 dataset, including 101 up-regulated genes and 88 down-regulated genes. The results of GO, KEGG and GSEA were mainly enriched in biological functions such as regulation of neuron projection development, regulation of locomotion, ribosomal protein synthesis, and pathways related to complex nervous system diseases such as Parkinson's disease. And the comprehensive screening showed that KLF1 was the hub gene of pesticide exposure, with a fold change of 0.456 (t=-3.82, P=0.021) .
ConclusionLong term exposure to pesticides results in the differential expression of multiple genes in the exposed population, which may be involved in the pathological changes of nervous system by down regulating KLF1 and related biological pathways.
Key words:
Pesticides; Gene Expression Omnibus; Bioinformatics analysis; Differentially expressed genes; Key gene
Contributor Information
Jiang Binjie
Department of Occupational Disease Control, Wujin Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Changzhou, Changzhou 213164, China
Dou Jianrui
Scenic Area Division, Yangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yangzhou 225007, China
Han Lei
Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210028, China
Jiangsu Preventive Medical Association, Nanjing 210028, China
Zhang Hengdong
Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210028, China
Jiangsu Preventive Medical Association, Nanjing 210028, China
Zhang Feng
Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210028, China
Jiangsu Preventive Medical Association, Nanjing 210028, China
Liu Xin
Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210028, China
Jiangsu Preventive Medical Association, Nanjing 210028, China
