Integrating Bioinformatics and Experimental Validation Identifies SCD as a Ferroptosis-Related Immune Regulator and Therapeutic Target in Crohn’s Disease
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the role of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in the intestinal inflammation of Crohn's disease (CD). Through integrated bioinformatics and experimental validation, we identified differentially expressed genes from RNA-seq data and intersected them with known FRGs to obtain ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (FEDGs). Functional enrichment and immune infiltration analyses were performed, and seven hub FEDGs were selected using machine learning. A diagnostic model based on these genes showed strong predictive ability. Immune analysis revealed significant associations with macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and CD4+ T cells. Protein expression of key hub genes was validated in clinical CD samples and a DSS-induced colitis model. Importantly, localized inhibition of SCD alleviated disease severity in experimental colitis. These findings highlight the involvement of ferroptosis in CD immune dysregulation and propose SCD as a potential therapeutic target.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms27010019
Authors: Jingtong Wu, Lixiang Zhou, Dongmei Qiu, Tao Wei, Chaohui Xie, Ermei Chen, Mengjie Lin, Yanyun Fan
Institutions: Xiamen University, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
OpenAlex ID: W4417500889