Identification of Immune-Related lncRNA Regulatory Network in Pulpitis

Abstract

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of various biological processes, including immune regulation.

Methods: Due to the critical significance of immunological responses in the development and progression of pulpitis, we used an integrated algorithm to identify immune-related lncRNAs and then examined the lncRNA-immunity regulation network in pulpitis. Before identifying immune-related lncRNAs, the data from GEO datasets were precleaned. ConsensusClusterPlus was used to differentiate immune-related pulpitis subgroups. Enrichment analysis using GO and MSigDB databases was employed to determine the differences in molecular function, cellular component, and biological process between the two pulpitis subtypes.

Results: An integrated algorithm was designed to filtrate immune-related lncRNAs accurately. 790 immune-related lncRNAs were found in 17 immunological categories, with 38 of them perturbated in pulpitis. The Cytoscape software was used to visualize the relationship between representative immune regulatory pathways and immune-related lncRNAs. Two immune-related pulpitis subtypes were discovered using differentially expressed immune-related lncRNAs. Subtype 2 has a stronger association with immune-related pathways than subtype 1 does.

Conclusions: Our study identified many immune-related lncRNAs and investigated potential lncRNA regulation networks; meanwhile, the molecular subtypes of pulpitis were identified, all of which will be relevant for further research into inflammatory and immunological processes in pulpitis.