Exploration and Validation of Ferroptosis-Associated Genes in ADAR1 Deletion-Induced NAFLD through RNA-seq Analysis

Xuecui Yin; Yang Mi; Xiaohan Wang; Ya Li; Xiaohui Zhu; Ihtisham Bukhari; Qingde Wang; Pengyuan Zheng; Xia Xue; Youcai Tang

doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112177

Exploration and Validation of Ferroptosis-Associated Genes in ADAR1 Deletion-Induced NAFLD through RNA-seq Analysis

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 May 1:134:112177. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112177. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xuecui Yin¹, Yang Mi², Xiaohan Wang³, Ya Li², Xiaohui Zhu³, Ihtisham Bukhari², Qingde Wang², Pengyuan Zheng⁴, Xia Xue⁵, Youcai Tang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China; Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China; Department of Gastroenterology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
² Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
³ Department of Pediatrics, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
⁴ Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China; Department of Gastroenterology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. Electronic address: pyzheng@zzu.edu.cn.
⁵ Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori, Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. Electronic address: xue-xiasophia@hotmail.com.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Chronic Liver Injury and Henan Provincial Outstanding Overseas Scientists Chronic Liver Injury Workshop, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Department of Gastroenterology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. Electronic address: tangyoucai@hotmail.com.

PMID: 38696908
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112177

Abstract

Background: Ferroptosis, characterized by excessive iron ions and lipid peroxides accumulation, contributes to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) development. The role of ADAR1, crucial for lipid metabolism and immune regulation, in ferroptosis-related NAFLD remains unexplored.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed the expression of ADAR1 in NAFLD patients using the GSE66676 database. Subsequently, We investigated the effects of ADAR1 knockdown on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), Fe2+ levels, oxidation products, and ferroptosis in NAFLD cells through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis was performed following ADAR1 depletion in an NAFLD cell model. Overlapping and ferroptosis-related genes were identified using a Venn diagram, while Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were conducted as well. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify hub genes associated with ferroptosis.

Results: We found the expression level of ADAR1 was downregulated in NAFLD patients and 22 ferroptosis-associated genes were differentially expressed in a NAFLD cell model upon ADAR1 knockdown. Based on PPI network, we identified NOS2, PTGS2, NOX4, ALB, IL6, and CCL5 as the central genes related to ferroptosis. ADAR1 deletion-related NAFLD was found to be involved in the ferroptosis signaling pathway. NOS2, PTGS2, ALB, and IL6 can serve as potential biomarkers. These findings offer new insights and expanded targets for NAFLD prevention and treatment.

Conclusion: These findings provide new strategies and potential targets for preventing and treating NAFLD. NOS2, PTGS2, ALB, and IL6 may serve as biomarkers for ADAR1 deletion-related NAFLD, which could help for developing its new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: ADAR1; Ferroptosis; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; immunology; liver disease.