Abstract
Aim: To identify DNA methylation and transcription biomarkers in the psoriatic epidermis. Materials & methods: Gene transcription and DNA methylation datasets of psoriatic epidermal tissue were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Machine learning algorithm analysis and weighted gene coexpression network analysis were carried out to screen hub genes. Results: Differentially methylated and expressed genes were identified in the psoriatic epidermis. Six hub genes were selected – GZMB, CRIP1, S100A12, ISG15, CRABP2 and VNN1 – whose transcript levels showed a significant correlation with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores and immune infiltration. Conclusion: Psoriatic epidermis is primarily in a hypermethylated status. Epidermis-specific hub differentially methylated and expressed genes are potential biomarkers to help judge the condition of psoriasis.
Supplementary data
To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/epi-2022-0458
Y Hu and M Ju conceived the workflow. Data analysis and manuscript writing were primarily done by LX Liu. K Chen, C Luan and JA Zhang revised the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank MuZhouBiJi and biowolf.cn for kind assistance to solve the technical issues. Special thanks to Ta Xiao for his constructive comments and excellent support throughout.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
This study was supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 82273552, 82203947 and 82073445), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (no. BK20210049) and CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS-2021-I2M-1-001). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Data sharing statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material; further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.