Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 08, 2024 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, 16 hours, 58 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health, revealing numerous connections between the virus and other serious conditions. This
COVID-19 News report explores a fascinating and crucial study that uncovers a potential link between COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer, providing new insights that could shape future research and treatment strategies.
The unexpected connection between COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer
Unveiling the Hidden Link
The study, conducted by researchers from Minda Hospital of Hubei Minzu University and Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, utilized bioinformatics and systems biology approaches to investigate the transcriptional profiles of patients with COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer. Current research suggests that infection with SARS-CoV-2 may increase disease severity and risk of death in patients with pancreatic cancer. The researchers aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms linking these two seemingly disparate diseases.
Using gene expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, they identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in both COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer patients compared to healthy controls. By analyzing these DEGs, they discovered 236 common genes between the two conditions. This article delves into the study's findings, highlighting the pathways and regulatory networks that might connect COVID-19 with pancreatic cancer.
Key Study Findings
The study identified 1722 DEGs in pancreatic cancer patients and 2979 DEGs in COVID-19 patients. Among these, 236 genes were common between the two conditions, suggesting a potential biological link. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these shared genes are involved in pathways related to viral genome replication and tumorigenesis.
The researchers constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to identify key hub genes that might play crucial roles in both diseases. Ten hub genes were identified, including ESPL1, HJURP, MKI67, KIF4A, CDK1, TOP2A, CCNB2, UBE2C, AURKB, and TPX2. These genes are associated with critical cellular processes such as cell division, proliferation, and genomic stability.
Pathway Enrichment Analysis
The pathway enrichment analysis using databases like Reactome, BioPlanet, KEGG, and WikiPathways showed that the shared DEGs are involved in significant biological processes. These include the immune response, cell cycle regulation, and viral genome replication. Notably, the analysis revealed pathways such as interferon alpha/beta signaling, G2/M DNA replication checkpoint, and viral carcinogenesis, suggesting that the interaction between COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer could influence both viral replication and cancer progression.
Hub Genes and Their Roles
The ten hub genes identified in the study play essential roles in both COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer:
trong>-ESPL1 (Extra Spindle Pole Bodies Like 1): Involved in cell division and chromosomal stability. Its overexpression can lead to cancer progression.
-HJURP (Holliday Junction Recognition Protein): Critical for centromere function and chromosomal stability. High levels are associated with poor survival in pancreatic cancer.
-MKI67 (Marker of Proliferation Ki-67): A marker for cell proliferation, highly expressed in cancer and severe COVID-19 cases.
-KIF4A (Kinesin Family Member 4A): Essential for chromosome condensation and segregation during cell division, contributing to cancer development.
-CDK1 (Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1): Regulates cell cycle transitions, with implications for both cancer progression and COVID-19 severity.
-TOP2A (Topoisomerase II Alpha): Crucial for DNA replication and transcription. Upregulated in pancreatic cancer and associated with COVID-19.
-CCNB2 (Cyclin B2): Regulates cell cycle progression and is a key gene in cancer and COVID-19.
-UBE2C (Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme E2 C): Plays a role in protein degradation and cell cycle regulation, linked to poor prognosis in cancer.
-AURKB (Aurora Kinase B): Involved in chromosome alignment and segregation, with implications for cancer and COVID-19.
-TPX2 (Targeting Protein for Xklp2): Essential for spindle assembly during mitosis, associated with cancer progression and COVID-19.
Potential Therapeutic Agents
The study also identified potential therapeutic agents that could target both COVID-19 and pancreatic cancer. These include lucanthone, etoposide, troglitazone, resveratrol, calcitriol, ciclopirox, dasatinib, enterolactone, methotrexate, and irinotecan. These drugs were predicted based on their interactions with the identified hub genes, offering new avenues for treatment.
Conclusion
This study unveils potential shared pathogenic mechanisms between pancreatic cancer and COVID-19, providing novel insights for future research and therapeutic strategies. The identification of common DEGs and hub genes highlights the complex interplay between viral infections and cancer, suggesting that understanding these connections could lead to better clinical management and outcomes for patients with comorbid conditions.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Medicine.
https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2024/08020/investigation_of_the_relationship_between_covid_19.38.aspx
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-sars-cov-2-is-likely-an-oncogenic-virus-that-will-cause-lung,-colorectal,-oral,-pancreatic-and-breast-cancers-in-the-long-term
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