A network analysis revealed the essential and common downstream proteins related to inguinal hernia

PLoS One. 2020 Jan 7;15(1):e0226885. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226885. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Although more than 1 in 4 men develop symptomatic inguinal hernia during their lifetime, the molecular mechanism behind inguinal hernia remains unknown. Here, we explored the protein-protein interaction network built on known inguinal hernia-causative genes to identify essential and common downstream proteins for inguinal hernia formation. We discovered that PIK3R1, PTPN11, TGFBR1, CDC42, SOS1, and KRAS were the most essential inguinal hernia-causative proteins and UBC, GRB2, CTNNB1, HSP90AA1, CBL, PLCG1, and CRK were listed as the most commonly-involved downstream proteins. In addition, the transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathway was the most frequently found inguinal hernia-related pathway. Our in silico approach was able to uncover a novel molecular mechanism underlying inguinal hernia formation by identifying inguinal hernia-related essential proteins and potential common downstream proteins of inguinal hernia-causative proteins.

MeSH terms

  • Cluster Analysis
  • Computer Simulation
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Hernia, Inguinal / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods*

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.