The Integrated Bioinformatic Assay of Genetic Expression Features and Analyses of Traditional Chinese Medicine Specific Constitution Reveal Metabolic Characteristics and Targets in Steatosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Chunping Qiao; Chengying Gu; Song Wen; Yanju He; Sheng Yang; Xinge Feng; Yipeng Zeng

doi:10.2147/HMER.S428161

The Integrated Bioinformatic Assay of Genetic Expression Features and Analyses of Traditional Chinese Medicine Specific Constitution Reveal Metabolic Characteristics and Targets in Steatosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Hepat Med. 2023 Oct 6:15:165-183. doi: 10.2147/HMER.S428161. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Chunping Qiao^#¹, Chengying Gu^#², Song Wen^#³, Yanju He³, Sheng Yang⁴, Xinge Feng⁵, Yipeng Zeng⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Examination, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Laogang Community Health Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, our primary aim is to analyze the genetic expression feature and analyze specific Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution distribution in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and reveal the metabolic characteristic of NAFLD.

Materials and methods: For revealing genetic features, we obtained the gene expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The genetic data on NAFLD were analyzed by identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs), associated pathways, co-expressed genetic networks, and gene set enrichment function. Concurrently, we assessed specific constitution distributions among local NAFLD patients through established TCM constitution models and determined the independent variable, including specific constitution to the NAFLD via the regression analyses.

Results: The analyses on GEO datasets showed that simple steatosis in NAFLD is strongly associated with HOMA-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Analyses of GEO datasets revealed significantly altered genetic expression profiles between NAFLD and normal populations. For TCM constitution analyses, we demonstrated a decline in yin-yang harmony (YYH) and yang-asthenia (YAAC) constitution, whereas there was an increase in qi-stagnation (QSC) and phlegm-dampness (PDC) in NAFLD. The binary logistic regression analysis indicated that besides other metabolic parameters, YYH, qi asthenia (QAC), YYAC, and yin-asthenia (YAC) were the independent variables of NAFLD, while YAC was the independent variables of T2D. The multilinear regression analyses suggested that NAFLD, DM, BMI, waist, TC, TG, hypertension, ALT, AST, and YAC were the significant determinators of the FPG.

Conclusion: This study presents a relatively comprehensive metabolic profile in steatosis of NAFLD, revealed by significant genetic expression feature alterations and different TCM constitution distribution in NAFLD. Through this method, the study intends to associate the genetic feature with the phenotype of TCM constitution. The results could be applied to assist integrative medicine research in exploring the appropriate personalized approaches for NAFLD.

Keywords: NAFLD; T2D; TCM constitution; bioinformatics.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the Key Specialist Project of Integrative Medicine for Metabolic Diseases in Pudong New Area (PWZzK2017-03), Pudong New Area Clinical Characteristic Discipline Project (Grant No. PWYts2021-11).