Mining the key genes regulating colorectal cancer proliferation based on
the GEO database
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common tumor in digestive system with high
morbidity and mortality. In this work, three datasets (GSE68468,
GSE21510, and GSE9348) were selected from the public GEO database, and
the deferentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to CRC were screened
out by bioinformatics approach. The GO (gene ontology) analysis on DEGs
was carried out and followed by the KEGG (kyoto encyclopedia of genes
and genomes) analysis. Finally, protein-protein interaction (PPI)
networks of DEGs were respectively constructed by using the STRING
database. Our results showed that a total of 849 DEGs in common were
identified from the three datasets, including 406 up-regulated genes and
443 down-regulated genes. The GO analysis demonstrated that the DEGs are
mainly related to cell division, cell proliferation, cell signaling, and
immune response. The KEGG analysis revealed that DEGs are mainly
enriched in cell cycle and cell signaling pathway. Based on the PPI
network analysis, we identified a total of 86 key genes: 72 up-regulated
genes mainly consist of CD and KIF genes while 14 down-regulated genes
are mainly composed of various members of CC genes. In particular, we
found that the CRC proliferation should be enhanced by the interaction
of CDK1 with CDKN3 and KIF15. On the one hand, CRC proliferation is
enhanced by over-expressing the CD and KIF genes involving in cell
division and cell proliferation. On the other hand, CRC proliferation is
strengthened through silencing the expression of the CC genes associated
with immune response.