• Fei Zhou, Tiantian Cheng, Yuling Xing, Huijuan Ma, and Linlin Yang.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Oct 28; 101 (43): e31489e31489.

BackgroundThis study explored underlying gene signatures of low birth weight (LBW) by analyzing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between LBW and normal birth weight (NBW) subjects.MethodsSubjects with different birth weight was collected from GEO database. P < .05 and | logFC | ≥ 1.0 were used for screening DEGs. David (2021 Update) was used to perform GO annotation and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction network of DEGs was constructed using the STRING database, in which hub genes were mined through Cytoscape software.ResultsA total of 326 DEGs were identified, including 287 up-regulated genes and 39 down-regulated genes. The GO biological processes enriched by DEGs mainly involved epidermal growth, keratinization and intermediate fibrous tissue. The DEGs were significantly enriched in intracellular insoluble membranes, desmosomes and extracellular space. Their molecular functions mainly focused on structural molecular activity, structural components of epidermis and structural components of cytoskeleton. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and tight junction were highlighted as critical pathways enriched by DEGs. Ten hub genes which included KRT14, EGF, DSP, DSG1, KRT16, KRT6A, EPCAM, SPRR1B, PKP1, and PPL were identified from the constructed protein-protein interaction network.ConclusionA total of 326 DEGs and 10 hub genes were identified as candidates for metabolic disorders in LBW individuals. Our results indicated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway as an intrauterine adaptive mechanism for LBW individuals. We observed activated PI3K/AKT pathway in LBW individuals, which would promote growth and development at the early stage of life, but adversely introduce extra metabolic stress and thereby potentially induce metabolic disorders in adulthood.Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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