Analysis of key genes and pathways associated with the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common endocrine disorder which poses a serious threat to human health. This investigation aimed to screen the candidate genes differentially expressed in T2DM by bioinformatics analysis. The expression profiling by high throughput sequencing of GSE81608 dataset was retrieved from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database and analyzed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between T2DM and normal controls. Then, Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, modules, miRNA-hub gene regulatory network construction and TF-hub gene regulatory network construction, and topological analysis were performed. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was also performed to verify the diagnostics value and expression of identified hub genes. A total of 927 DEGs (461 were up regulated and 466 down regulated genes) were identified in T2DM. GO and REACTOME results showed that DEGs mainly enriched in protein metabolic process, establishment of localization, metabolism of proteins and metabolism. The top centrality hub genes APP, MYH9, TCTN2, USP7, SYNPO, GRB2, HSP90AB1, UBC, HSPA5 and SQSTM1 were screened out as the critical genes among the DEGs from the PPI network, modules, miRNA-hub gene regulatory network construction and TF-hub gene regulatory network. ROC analysis provide diagnostics value of hub genes. This study identified key genes, signal pathways and therapeutic agents, which might help us, improve our understanding of the mechanisms of HGPS and identify some new therapeutic agents for T2DM.