Effects of spaceflight on the spleen and thymus of mice: Gene pathway analysis and immune infiltration analysis

Yuru Han; Shuo Shi; Shuang Liu; Xuefeng Gu; Yuru Han; Shuo Shi; Shuang Liu; Xuefeng Gu

doi:10.3934/mbe.2023374

Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering

2023, Volume 20, Issue 5: 8531-8545. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2023374

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Research article

Effects of spaceflight on the spleen and thymus of mice: Gene pathway analysis and immune infiltration analysis

1.
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
2.
School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
3.
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
4.
China COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute, Shanghai, China

Academic Editor: Xiao Wang

Received: 10 December 2022 Revised: 31 January 2023 Accepted: 12 February 2023 Published: 03 March 2023

During space flight, the immune system function of the body is disrupted due to continuous weightlessness, radiation and other factors, resulting in an increased incidence of infectious diseases in astronauts. However, the effect of space flight on the immune system at the molecular level is unknown. The aim of this study was to identify key genes and pathways of spatial environmental effects on the spleen and thymus using bioinformatics analysis of the GEO dataset. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the spleen and thymus of mice preflight and postflight were screened by comprehensive analysis of gene expression profile data. Then, GO enrichment analysis of DEGs was performed to determine the biological role of DEGs. A protein–protein interaction network was used to identify hub genes. In addition, transcription factors in DEGs were screened, and a TF-target regulatory network was constructed. Finally, immune infiltration analysis was performed on spleen and thymus samples from mice. The results showed that DEGs in the spleen and thymus are mainly involved in immune responses and in biological processes related to platelets. Six hub genes were identified in the spleen and 13 in the thymus, of which Ttr, Aldob, Gc and Fabp1 were common to both tissues. In addition, 5 transcription factors were present in the DEGs of the spleen, and 9 transcription factors were present in the DEGs of the thymus. The spatial environment can influence the degree of immune cell infiltration in the spleen and thymus. Our study bioinformatically analyzed the GEO dataset of spacefaring mice to identify the effects of the space environment on the immune system and the genes that play key roles, providing insights for the treatment of spaceflight-induced immune system disorders.
- spaceflight,
- spleen,
- thymus,
- immune system,
- immune cell filtration
Citation: Yuru Han, Shuo Shi, Shuang Liu, Xuefeng Gu. Effects of spaceflight on the spleen and thymus of mice: Gene pathway analysis and immune infiltration analysis[J]. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 2023, 20(5): 8531-8545. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2023374

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Abstract

During space flight, the immune system function of the body is disrupted due to continuous weightlessness, radiation and other factors, resulting in an increased incidence of infectious diseases in astronauts. However, the effect of space flight on the immune system at the molecular level is unknown. The aim of this study was to identify key genes and pathways of spatial environmental effects on the spleen and thymus using bioinformatics analysis of the GEO dataset. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the spleen and thymus of mice preflight and postflight were screened by comprehensive analysis of gene expression profile data. Then, GO enrichment analysis of DEGs was performed to determine the biological role of DEGs. A protein–protein interaction network was used to identify hub genes. In addition, transcription factors in DEGs were screened, and a TF-target regulatory network was constructed. Finally, immune infiltration analysis was performed on spleen and thymus samples from mice. The results showed that DEGs in the spleen and thymus are mainly involved in immune responses and in biological processes related to platelets. Six hub genes were identified in the spleen and 13 in the thymus, of which Ttr, Aldob, Gc and Fabp1 were common to both tissues. In addition, 5 transcription factors were present in the DEGs of the spleen, and 9 transcription factors were present in the DEGs of the thymus. The spatial environment can influence the degree of immune cell infiltration in the spleen and thymus. Our study bioinformatically analyzed the GEO dataset of spacefaring mice to identify the effects of the space environment on the immune system and the genes that play key roles, providing insights for the treatment of spaceflight-induced immune system disorders.

References

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