Differential network as an indicator of osteoporosis with network entropy

Ma, Lili; Du, Hongmei; Chen, Guangdong

Identifying key genes and modules from PPINs is of great help for uncovering the biological functions of genes in networks (30, 31) . In the present study, a total of 8 genes, PSMA2, PSMB1, PSMC1, PSMC4, PSMD5, PSMD7, PSMD8 and PSMD11, were identified in both monocyte low and high PBM networks. They belonged to precursors of macropain, which were related to calcium transport as well as blood monocytes. In a previous study, the surplus/PSMD5 was found to inhibit the assembly and activity of 26S proteasome in human disease (32) . Importantly, neuronal activity and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II could regulate the expression of proteasome (33) . Intracellular calcium mobilization regulates the activity of 26S proteasome during the metaphase-anaphase transition in meiotic cell cycle (34) . At the same time, proteasome inhibitor lactacystin hinders the calcium homeostasis of dopamine neurons (35) . Similar results were also obtained in this study, the results of RT-qPCR in this study showed that compared with sham controls, the expression of target genes in osteoporosis were obviously increased. In other words, the method of network entropy could be used to detect differential networks as indicator of disease. These 8 genes may play important roles in controlling inflammation of the osteoporosis. It suggested that the network is a novel therapeutic indicator for osteoporosis during the bone monocyte progression. These findings are helpful in disclosing the pathogenetic mechanisms of osteoporosis.