Identification crucial genes in peripheral neuropathic pain induced by spared nerve injury.

AIM: Peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) is a kind of neuropathic pain caused by damage or disease that affects the peripheral nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of PNP and identify therapy targets for treating PNP in a spared nerve injury (SNI) model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gene expression data with accession number of GSE18803 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). This dataset included microarray data of four kinds of rat samples (adult rats with SNI, adult rats with sham injury, neonate rats with SNI, and neonate rats with sham injury). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by using Limma software package, and further, Gene Ontology (GO) function and pathway analysis of DEGs were performed through the DAVID online tools. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs were constructed by STRING online database, and co-expression networks were constructed through Cytoscape.

RESULTS: Totally 111 DEGs which were specially differentially expressed in adult rats with SNI were identified. Functional enrichment analysis suggest the majority of DEGs were related with immune functions. By comparing the three lists of genes got from GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, PPI network, and co-expression network analysis, 15 crucial genes were identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Pathological nerve pain might be associated with immune dysfunctions and the 15 crucial genes might play an important role in the development of pathological nerve pain and have potential to be therapy targets.