Bioinformatics analysis of microarray data to reveal the pathogenesis of brain ischemia

Brain ischemia leads to energy depletion, mitochondria! dysfunction and neuronal cell death. The present study was designed to identify key genes and pathways associated with brain ischemia. The gene expression profile GSE52001, including 3 normal brain samples and 3 cerebral ischemia samples, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma package. Then functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed by the MATHT tool. Protein-protein interaction (WI) network, module selection and microRNA (miRNA)-target gene network were constructed utilizing Cytoscape software. A total of 488 DEGs were identified (including 281 upregulated and 207 downregulated genes). In the PH network, Rae family small GTPase 2 (RAC2) had higher degrees. RAC2 was significantly enriched in the FcyR-mediated phagocytosis pathway. miR-29AIBIC had a higher degree in the miRNA-target gene network. Insulin like growth factor 1 (Igf1) was identified as the target gene for miR-29A/B/C. RAC2 may function in brain ischemia through mediating the FcyR-mediated phagocytosis pathway. Meanwhile, miR-29AIBIC and their targets gene lgf1 may serve, important roles in the development and progression of brain ischemia.