RESUMO
BACKGROUND:Development of neural crest cels, which is regulated by various genes, plays an important role in the formation of central nervous system, heart, craniofacial organs and other tissues. However, the relationship among these genes is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the molecular regulatory networks involved in the process of neural crest cel development based on a bioinformatic analysis. METHODS:Totaly 500 differentialy expressed genes during the process ofneural crest cel development were obtained from the GEO on-line database. Then the DAVID and STRING on-line databases were used to evaluate the relationship among these genes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Totaly 500 differentialy expressed genes during theprocess of neural crest cel development could be enriched into different subgroups based on the analysis of DAVID database, including “transforming growth factor β signal pathway”, “WNT signal pathway”, “homeobox gene” , “neural crest cel differentiation” and “neural tube development”. Additionaly, 12 genes molecular networks were built based on the analysis of STRING database, such as DLX5, MSX2, SNAIL2, PAX7, SHH, SOX9, NOG, GSC, KAL1, bone morphogenetic protein 5, fibroblast growth factor 8 and WNT3a.These genes exhibited interactions by co-expression, activation and antagonism. Therefore, many genes involved in the process of neural crest cel development were interacted and formed the networks. These findings imply that we should understand these neural crest-related diseases from a holistic view of the signaling pathway and molecular regulatory networks.