Background and objectives
Chronic liver cirrhosis (LC) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) are interconnected hepatic disorders associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite their distinct clinical characteristics, both conditions share common pathogenic pathways that remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to identify shared gene signatures and elucidate underlying molecular mechanisms.
Methods
In this study, we employed Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis to explore transcriptomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus for LC and ACLF.
Results
Key co-expression modules enriched with genes involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways were identified, implicating metabolic dysfunction as a central feature in both conditions. Furthermore, microRNA analysis revealed that hsa-miR-122 and hsa-miR-194 play pivotal roles in regulating these metabolic pathways, potentially contributing to immune dysregulation.
Conclusions
Our transcriptomic analysis has uncovered a potential pathogenic association between glucose metabolism and both ACLF and LC. This association is mediated by miR-122 and miR-194, along with their corresponding signaling pathways. These findings highlight novel therapeutic targets that warrant further in-depth exploration.
Xu, X., et al. (2025). Shared Gene Signatures and Key Mechanisms in the Progression from Liver Cirrhosis to Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure. Journal of Translational Gastroenterology. doi.org/10.14218/jtg.2024.00047
