Sphingolipid metabolism-related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and Mendelian randomization identification

Abstract Background The rising global incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) highlights the need for more effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Sphingolipid metabolites are crucial in MetS pathogenesis, and identifying related biomarkers could improve treatment strategies. Methods Differential...

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Main Authors: Weidong Li, Qixing Zhong, Naisheng Deng, Xinhao Zhou, Haitao Wang, Jun Ouyang, Zhifen Guan, Bohao Cheng, Lijun Xiang, Yueming Huang, Yao Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01803-8
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author Weidong Li
Qixing Zhong
Naisheng Deng
Xinhao Zhou
Haitao Wang
Jun Ouyang
Zhifen Guan
Bohao Cheng
Lijun Xiang
Yueming Huang
Yao Wang
author_facet Weidong Li
Qixing Zhong
Naisheng Deng
Xinhao Zhou
Haitao Wang
Jun Ouyang
Zhifen Guan
Bohao Cheng
Lijun Xiang
Yueming Huang
Yao Wang
author_sort Weidong Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The rising global incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) highlights the need for more effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Sphingolipid metabolites are crucial in MetS pathogenesis, and identifying related biomarkers could improve treatment strategies. Methods Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were extracted from the GSE181646 dataset and compared with sphingolipid metabolism-related genes (SMRGs) to identify differentially expressed SMRGs (DE-SMRGs). Key module genes were obtained via Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Machine learning and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve validation were used to screen biomarkers, followed by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and immune cell infiltration analysis. Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to explore causal relationships between biomarkers and MetS-related diseases. Results A total of 701 DEGs, 599 key module genes, and 30 candidate genes were identified. PTPN18 and TAX1BP3 were validated as biomarkers and were found to be enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions and vascular smooth muscle contraction pathways. The levels of five immune cell types, including plasmacytoid dendritic cells, exhibited notable differences between the MetS and normal samples. TAX1BP3 exhibited a markedly negative correlation with activated CD8 T cell (r = -0.584), whereas it showed a markedly positive correlation with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (r = 0.744). MR analysis revealed that PTPN18 acted as a protective factor against obesity (P < 0.05, OR = 0.702), hyperlipidemia (P = 0.0015, OR = 0.855), and type 2 diabetes (P = 0.0026, OR = 0.953), but was associated with elevated fasting blood insulin (P < 0.05, OR = 1.036). Conclusion PTPN18 and TAX1BP3 were identified as sphingolipid metabolism-related biomarkers for MetS, offering potential promising targets for therapeutic intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-d27246a3f54b47b9a83cdc3d08d2c99f2025-08-20T02:37:33ZengBMCDiabetology & Metabolic Syndrome1758-59962025-06-0117111710.1186/s13098-025-01803-8Sphingolipid metabolism-related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and Mendelian randomization identificationWeidong Li0Qixing Zhong1Naisheng Deng2Xinhao Zhou3Haitao Wang4Jun Ouyang5Zhifen Guan6Bohao Cheng7Lijun Xiang8Yueming Huang9Yao Wang10Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan City People’s HospitalAbstract Background The rising global incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) highlights the need for more effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Sphingolipid metabolites are crucial in MetS pathogenesis, and identifying related biomarkers could improve treatment strategies. Methods Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were extracted from the GSE181646 dataset and compared with sphingolipid metabolism-related genes (SMRGs) to identify differentially expressed SMRGs (DE-SMRGs). Key module genes were obtained via Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Machine learning and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve validation were used to screen biomarkers, followed by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and immune cell infiltration analysis. Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to explore causal relationships between biomarkers and MetS-related diseases. Results A total of 701 DEGs, 599 key module genes, and 30 candidate genes were identified. PTPN18 and TAX1BP3 were validated as biomarkers and were found to be enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions and vascular smooth muscle contraction pathways. The levels of five immune cell types, including plasmacytoid dendritic cells, exhibited notable differences between the MetS and normal samples. TAX1BP3 exhibited a markedly negative correlation with activated CD8 T cell (r = -0.584), whereas it showed a markedly positive correlation with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (r = 0.744). MR analysis revealed that PTPN18 acted as a protective factor against obesity (P < 0.05, OR = 0.702), hyperlipidemia (P = 0.0015, OR = 0.855), and type 2 diabetes (P = 0.0026, OR = 0.953), but was associated with elevated fasting blood insulin (P < 0.05, OR = 1.036). Conclusion PTPN18 and TAX1BP3 were identified as sphingolipid metabolism-related biomarkers for MetS, offering potential promising targets for therapeutic intervention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01803-8Metabolic syndromeSphingolipid metabolismPTPN18 and TAX1BP3Mendelian randomizationKey module genes
spellingShingle Weidong Li
Qixing Zhong
Naisheng Deng
Xinhao Zhou
Haitao Wang
Jun Ouyang
Zhifen Guan
Bohao Cheng
Lijun Xiang
Yueming Huang
Yao Wang
Sphingolipid metabolism-related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and Mendelian randomization identification
Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome
Sphingolipid metabolism
PTPN18 and TAX1BP3
Mendelian randomization
Key module genes
title Sphingolipid metabolism-related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and Mendelian randomization identification
title_full Sphingolipid metabolism-related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and Mendelian randomization identification
title_fullStr Sphingolipid metabolism-related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and Mendelian randomization identification
title_full_unstemmed Sphingolipid metabolism-related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and Mendelian randomization identification
title_short Sphingolipid metabolism-related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and Mendelian randomization identification
title_sort sphingolipid metabolism related genes for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by integrated bioinformatics analysis and mendelian randomization identification
topic Metabolic syndrome
Sphingolipid metabolism
PTPN18 and TAX1BP3
Mendelian randomization
Key module genes
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01803-8
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