Mechanistic studies of molecular networks associated with pulmonary hypertension explored by combined transcriptome analysis of Project-methylation

BACKGOUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling, which ultimately leads to right heart failure. Previous studies have confirmed that DNA variations contribute to the development and progression of PH. This study aims to integrate methylation and transcriptome data to uncover key molecular networks and potential therapeutic targets for PH. METHODS: Gene expression (GSE117261) and methylation data (GSE84395) from PH patients were retrieved from the GEO database. Differential genes and methylation sites were identified using the limma and ChAMP packages. A co-expression network was constructed using WGCNA, and the functions of key genes were explored through immune infiltration analysis, GSEA/GSVA pathway enrichment, transcriptional regulatory network prediction, and experimental validatio. RESULTS: Seven key genes (S100A9, IL18RAP, CXCR2, LCN2, INHBA, CSF3R, LTBP1) were identified. Among these, CXCR2 was significantly upregulated in both PH patients and animal models. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CXCR2 drives pulmonary vascular remodeling via multiple pathways, including the IL-17 signaling pathway (inflammatory reaction), ROS pathway (oxidative stress), PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (cell proliferation), and metabolic pathways. Experimental validation confirmed high expression of CXCR2 in the smooth muscle layer of pulmonary arteries and its strong association with immune cell infiltration (neutrophils, monocytes). CONCLUSION: Through multi-omics integration analysis, this study elucidates the key molecular mechanisms underlying PH and identifies potential therapeutic targets. In the pathogenesis of PH, dysfunction of inflammatory and immune responses plays a critical role. Experimental validation demonstrates that CXCR2 may serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for PH, with its multi-pathway regulatory mechanism providing a theoretical foundation for precision medicine in PH treatment.