Identification and validation of cellular senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration

ObjectiveTo identify cell senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) using bioinformatics and investigate their biological functions and signaling pathways.MethodsGSE56081 and GSE23130 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expres...

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Main Authors: Hao Li, Lei Miao, Jiayuan Wu, Ye Wang, Jiyuan Xia, Da He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1589849/full
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author Hao Li
Lei Miao
Jiayuan Wu
Ye Wang
Jiyuan Xia
Da He
author_facet Hao Li
Lei Miao
Jiayuan Wu
Ye Wang
Jiyuan Xia
Da He
author_sort Hao Li
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo identify cell senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) using bioinformatics and investigate their biological functions and signaling pathways.MethodsGSE56081 and GSE23130 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The former was used for the analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the latter was used as the validation set. Intersection analysis of DEGs and cell senescence-related genes was performed to screen for senescence-related differentially expressed genes (SRDEGs). SRDEGs were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was also drawn, and the hub SRDEGs were obtained using 11 different algorithms. Immune infiltration analysis was then performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the hub SRDEGs.ResultsFour hub SRDEGs, SP1, FOXO1, ESR1, and MAPK1, were identified. SP1 was downregulated in IVDD, while the other three hub genes were upregulated. ROC curve verification showed that the AUC for SP1, FOXO1, ESR1, and MAPK1 were 0.483, 0.683, 0.683, and 0.725, respectively. RT-qPCR confirmed that MAPK1 expression was higher in the degeneration group (t = 3.229, P <0.001). Immune infiltration analysis demonstrated elevated proportions of CD8 T cells and activated NK cells in IVDD samples, with MAPK1 showing positive correlations with CD8 T cells, activated NK cells, and neutrophils but negative correlations with naive CD4 T cells, B memory cells, and resting NK cells.ConclusionThese findings highlight MAPK1 as a pivotal regulator of cellular senescence and immune cell infiltration in IVDD pathogenesis, offering novel therapeutic targets for intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-6dda2f8e8c2a4fba92a96536e3d7de3b2025-08-20T02:01:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15898491589849Identification and validation of cellular senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degenerationHao Li0Lei Miao1Jiayuan Wu2Ye Wang3Jiyuan Xia4Da He5Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Computer Science, South China Business College of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaObjectiveTo identify cell senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) using bioinformatics and investigate their biological functions and signaling pathways.MethodsGSE56081 and GSE23130 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The former was used for the analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the latter was used as the validation set. Intersection analysis of DEGs and cell senescence-related genes was performed to screen for senescence-related differentially expressed genes (SRDEGs). SRDEGs were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was also drawn, and the hub SRDEGs were obtained using 11 different algorithms. Immune infiltration analysis was then performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the hub SRDEGs.ResultsFour hub SRDEGs, SP1, FOXO1, ESR1, and MAPK1, were identified. SP1 was downregulated in IVDD, while the other three hub genes were upregulated. ROC curve verification showed that the AUC for SP1, FOXO1, ESR1, and MAPK1 were 0.483, 0.683, 0.683, and 0.725, respectively. RT-qPCR confirmed that MAPK1 expression was higher in the degeneration group (t = 3.229, P <0.001). Immune infiltration analysis demonstrated elevated proportions of CD8 T cells and activated NK cells in IVDD samples, with MAPK1 showing positive correlations with CD8 T cells, activated NK cells, and neutrophils but negative correlations with naive CD4 T cells, B memory cells, and resting NK cells.ConclusionThese findings highlight MAPK1 as a pivotal regulator of cellular senescence and immune cell infiltration in IVDD pathogenesis, offering novel therapeutic targets for intervention.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1589849/fullGEO databaseintervertebral disc degenerationcellular senescenceimmune infiltrationMAPK1
spellingShingle Hao Li
Lei Miao
Jiayuan Wu
Ye Wang
Jiyuan Xia
Da He
Identification and validation of cellular senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration
Frontiers in Immunology
GEO database
intervertebral disc degeneration
cellular senescence
immune infiltration
MAPK1
title Identification and validation of cellular senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration
title_full Identification and validation of cellular senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration
title_fullStr Identification and validation of cellular senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration
title_full_unstemmed Identification and validation of cellular senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration
title_short Identification and validation of cellular senescence-related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration
title_sort identification and validation of cellular senescence related genes and immune cell infiltration characteristics in intervertebral disc degeneration
topic GEO database
intervertebral disc degeneration
cellular senescence
immune infiltration
MAPK1
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1589849/full
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