Bioinformatics and system biology approach to identify the influences of COVID-19 on metabolic unhealthy obese patients (preprint)

Objective: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has posed a significant challenge to health of individual. Increasing evidence shows that patients with metabolic unhealthy obesity (MUO) and COVID19 have severer complications and higher mortality rate. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between MUO and COVID19 are poorly understood. We sought to implement transcriptomic analysis using bioinformatics and systems biology analysis approaches. Methods: Here, two datasets (GSE196822 and GSE152991) were employed to extract differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to identify common hub genes, shared pathways and candidate drugs and construct a gene disease network. Results: Based on the identified 65 common DEGs, the results revealed hub genes and essential modules. Moreover, common associations between MUO and COVID-19 were found. Transcription factors (TFs) and genes interaction, protein and drug interactions, and DEGs and miRNAs coregulatory network were identified. Furthermore, the gene-disease association were obtained and constructed. Conclusions: The shared pathogenic pathways are noted worth paying attention to. Several genes are highlighted as critical targets for developing treatments for and investigating the complications of COVID19 and MUO. Additionally, multiple genes are identified as promising biomarkers. We think this result of the study may help in selecting and inventing future treatments that can combat COVID-19 and MUO.

Exploration of the Link Between COVID-19 and Alcoholic Hepatitis from the Perspective of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (preprint)

Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been suggested to purpose threats to health of mankind. Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a life-threatening acute and chronic liver failure that takes place in sufferers who drink excessively. During the epidemic, AH has an increasing incidence of severe illness and mortality. However, for these two diseases, the intrinsic relationship of molecular pathogenesis, as well as common therapeutic strategies are still poorly understood. Methods: The transcriptome of the COVID-19 and AH has been compared to obtain the altered genes and hub genes were screened out through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Via gene ontology (GO), pathway enrichment and transcription regulator analysis, a deeper appreciation of the interplay mechanism between hub genes were established. Results: With 181 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of AH and COVID-19 were obtained, 10 hub genes were captured. Follow-up studies located that these 10 genes typically mediated the diseases occurrence by regulating the activities of the immune system. Other results suggest that the common pathways of the two ailments are enriched in regulating the function of immune cells and the release of immune molecules. Conclusion: This study reveals the common pathogenesis of COVID-19 and AH and assist to discover necessary therapeutic targets to combat the ongoing pandemic induced via SARS-CoV-2 infection and acquire promising remedy strategies for the two diseases.