Identification of exosome-related differentially expressed genes in ischemic stroke

Abstract An ischemic stroke is a pathological condition characterized by an abrupt cessation of blood flow to a specific cerebral region, leading to a concomitant impairment of neurological function. This form of stroke arises from occlusions or constriction of the cerebral arteries responsible for supplying blood to the brain, and may manifest as a consequence of diverse factors including thrombosis, embolism, or systemic hypoperfusion. The aim of the present study was to identify exosome-related differentially expressed genes (ERDEGs) for ischemic stroke (IS) by integrating and analyzing gene expression profiles from two independent datasets. Differential expression analysis yielded 16 ERDEGs (Aprt, Cd55, Ckap4, Ctsz, Cuta, Emg1, Imp3, Lamp2, Mgam, Mif, Mme, Mmp9, Sdcbp, Slamf1, Tln1, and Tubb), which were examined for functional similarities and differential expression between IS and control groups. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed significant pathways involved in platelet aggregation and inflammatory responses. The diagnostic potential was assessed employing Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) logistic regression methodologies, identifying a subset of genes exhibiting substantial diagnostic accuracy. Four ERDEGs (Tubb, Sdcbp, Tln1, and Ctsz) were identified as key biomarkers, with Sdcbp showing the highest utility. The clinical efficacy of the diagnostic model based on ERDEGs was evaluated, demonstrating significant prognostic significance for IS.