Integrated bioinformatics analysis of the eﬀects of chronic pain on patients with spinal cord injury

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2025 · DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2025.1457740 · Published: February 5, 2025

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Bioinformatics

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) poses a significant challenge in modern medicine, impacting patients and society. There is a strong link between SCI and chronic pain, but the molecular reasons are not well understood. This study uses bioinformatics to find molecular markers and pathways connecting SCI and chronic pain, aiming to understand the mechanisms and find possible treatments. The study analyzed data from the GSE151371 and GSE177034 databases to find genes that are expressed differently in SCI and chronic pain. The analysis found shared pathways, proteins, transcription factor networks, important genes, and possible therapeutic drugs. The study also looked at immune cell infiltration in SCI and how it relates to chronic pain. The analysis of 15 key genes led to the identification of potential drugs for treating SCI and chronic pain. These findings may improve treatment outcomes for patients with SCI and chronic pain.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

GSE151371 dataset: 38 patients with traumatic SCI and 10 healthy individuals; GSE177034 dataset: 49 patients with chronic pain

Evidence Level

Original Research

Key Findings

1
The study identified 101 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with SCI and chronic pain. Further analysis led to the identification of 15 hub genes and 4 potential candidate genes.
2
GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed a strong correlation between SCI and chronic pain, particularly related to inflammation. A significant link was found between SCI and T cell activation, which can cause persistent inflammation and chronic pain.
3
The study identified potential therapeutic drugs and explored the transcription factor network and ceRNA networks associated with the hub genes, providing insights for potential treatment strategies.

Research Summary

This study employed bioinformatics analysis to explore the association between SCI and chronic pain, aiming to uncover relevant pathways and molecular biomarkers for potential therapeutic targeting. Through analysis of 101 common DEGs between SCI and chronic pain, their functional roles were characterized using GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. The analysis pinpointed 4 potential candidate genes. Further investigation into these genes revealed 11 potential therapeutic drugs, highlighting new avenues for research and development in SCI and chronic pain treatment.

Practical Implications

Drug Development

Identification of potential therapeutic drugs can lead to the development of targeted therapies for SCI-related chronic pain.

Biomarker Identification

Identification of hub genes and candidate genes can lead to improved diagnostic and prognostic tools for SCI patients experiencing chronic pain.

Personalized Treatment

Understanding the molecular mechanisms and immune responses can facilitate the development of personalized treatment strategies tailored to individual patient profiles.

Study Limitations

1
Findings are based on data from the GEO database, which has limitations in terms of dataset size and comprehensiveness for the SCI group.
2
It is essential to validate these findings through studies using larger and more comprehensive datasets.
3
Additional clinical evidence would greatly enhance the credibility and applicability of the findings.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury