Open Access

Identification of key genes and pathways associated with obesity in children

  • Authors:
    • Ling Li
    • Guangyu Wang
    • Ning Li
    • Haiyan Yu
    • Jianping Si
    • Jiwen Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 13, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4597
  • Pages: 1065-1073
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The present study aimed to identify potential key genes and pathways in obese children in order to explore possible molecular mechanisms associated with child obesity. The array dataset GSE29718 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples derived from 7 obese children and 8 lean children were selected for the analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in samples from obese children compared with those from lean children were analyzed by the limma package. Gene ontology (GO) annotation, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Reactome pathway enrichment analyses for up and downregulated genes were performed. A protein‑protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed with Cytoscape software and important genes associated with obesity were determined using IRegulon. A total of 199 DEGs (79 up and 120 downregulated genes) were identified in the samples of obese children compared with those from lean children. The PPI network was established with 103 nodes and 147 protein pairs. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and acetyl‑CoA carboxylase β (ACACB) were identified as hub genes in the PPI network and may therefore be marker genes for child obesity. In addition, upregulated DEGs were enriched in Reactome pathways associated with the immune system. Besides, MMP9 was upregulated in immune system processes as a GO term in the category Biological Processes. The results of the present study indicated that MMP9, ACACB and immune system pathways may have a significant role in child obesity.
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August-2017
Volume 14 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Li L, Wang G, Li N, Yu H, Si J and Wang J: Identification of key genes and pathways associated with obesity in children. Exp Ther Med 14: 1065-1073, 2017
APA
Li, L., Wang, G., Li, N., Yu, H., Si, J., & Wang, J. (2017). Identification of key genes and pathways associated with obesity in children. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 14, 1065-1073. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4597
MLA
Li, L., Wang, G., Li, N., Yu, H., Si, J., Wang, J."Identification of key genes and pathways associated with obesity in children". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14.2 (2017): 1065-1073.
Chicago
Li, L., Wang, G., Li, N., Yu, H., Si, J., Wang, J."Identification of key genes and pathways associated with obesity in children". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14, no. 2 (2017): 1065-1073. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4597