Common pathogenic mechanisms for COVID-19 and differentiated thyroid cancer: a proteomic analysis

BackgroundPrevious studies have proved that viral infection might have potential associations with differentiated thyroid cancer. COVID-19 has spread to hundreds of millions of individuals since Dec 2019. This study aimed to investigate the common pathogenic mechanisms of differentiated thyroid cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection in thyroid tissues. MethodsThe proteomic profiles of COVID-19 and differentiated thyroid cancer were downloaded from iProx database and were analyzed for differentially expressed proteins. After the common proteins were identified using the Venn diagram, gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis were performed. Subsequently, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed and hub genes were identified with eight algorithms. The diagnostic performance of hub genes was tested with the receiver operator characteristics curve. The associations between hub genes and diseases were evaluated with the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. ResultsForty-nine common differentially expressed proteins were identified. Functional analysis revealed that the metabolism and transport of lipid and cholesterol and coagulation process were the main common biological activities affected by the two diseases. In addition, twelve genes, including AGT, AHSG, APOA2, APOM, C3, GC, ITIH2, KNG1, SERPINA1, SERPINC1, TF and TTR, were identified as the hub genes. These genes could serve as diagnostic markers for COVID-19 and differentiated thyroid cancers. ConclusionThe current study revealed common pathogenic mechanisms of COVID-19 and differentiated thyroid cancer. The concomitant infection of SARS-CoV-2 might exert adverse effects on patients with thyroid cancers.