ZNF384 Is a Potential Therapeutic Target in Psoriasis That Regulates Signature Transcription Factors

According to results from a study published in Frontiers in Immunology, the transcription factor ZNF384 is a potential therapeutic target for psoriasis and Alzheimer disease that acts on inflammation and metabolism.

Researchers aimed to explore the common transcription factors and their upstream regulator by conducting a silico experiment to explore potential molecular mechanisms in psoriasis and Alzheimer disease . The Gene Expression Omnibus database was used to gather gene expression profiling data of psoriasis and Alzheimer disease  within the first 2 datasets, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and single-sample GSEA were applied. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and common DEGs selected. To find common biologic pathways, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed. Signature transcription factors (STFs) were identified and diagnostic values calculated. Interaction analyses were also performed.

Pathway analysis showed that biosynthesis and metabolic pathways were enriched. Immunoreaction gene lists were differentially enriched in psoriasis, and three receptor-related gene lists were in Alzheimer disease . Inflammatory and metabolic pathways were essential in both diseases, according to KEGG analysis of common DEGs. The 5 STFs screened from common DEGs included PPARG, ZFPM2, ZNF415, HLX, and ANHX. The transcription factor ZNF384 regulates PPARG, ZNF415, HLX, and ANHX. All STFs have diagnostic values in the 2 diseases. STFs interplay and involve inflammation and aberrant metabolism.

“Our work proposed that STFs (PPARG, ZFPM2, ZNF415, HLX, and ANHX) mediate the initiation of chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders that increase the risk of developing [Alzheimer disease] in the psoriasis population,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Liu S, Yuan X, Su H, Liu F, Zhuang Z, Chen Y. ZNF384: a potential therapeutic target for psoriasis and alzheimer's disease through inflammation and metabolism. Front Immunol. 2022;13:892368. Published online May 20, 2022. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.892368