Enrichment Analysis on Differentially Expressed Genes in Four TCM Constitutions within "Gene-constitution-disease" Relevance Mode / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To dig the correlation between genes and four TCM constitutions (phlegm-dampness, blood stasis, allergy, and dampness-heat); To analyze microscopic mechanism of constitution formed and constitution-disease correlation; To provide biological basis for TCM constitution classification and constitution-disease correlation theory. Methods Literature about TCM constitutions and gene expressions in CNKI and Wanfang Database were retrieved by computers from the establishment of database to 31, December 2016. Differentially expressed genes of four TCM constitutions were collected, and DAVID database was used for enrichment analysis, including gene tissue enrichment analysis, disease analysis, GO analysis, and pathway analysis. The results of DAVID database analysis were downloaded and analyzed. Results Four TCM constitutions had differences in gene level, and each constitution had the specificity in significantly enriched gene function, activity, pathways, related diseases, and expression locations. Different patterns of gene expression led to the constitution differences in disease susceptibility and tendency. Conclusion The essence of TCM constitution formation is the change of gene expression patterns, and the pathological changes are also caused by the change.