BACKGROUND:

Intracranial aneurysm (IA) represents a cerebrovascular disorder that featured by dilation or bulging of the weakened blood vessel wall. When it ruptures, an intracranial aneurysm leads to subarachnoid hemorrhage with high disability and mortality rates. In spite of many researches focusing on IA ruptures, fewer researches on IA pathogenesis were reported.

METHODS:

In this study, we aimed to reveal key genes related to IA formation. Four datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data were downloaded, normalized, and separated into the IA group and the normal vessel control group for analyses. We screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between groups, and conducted functional enrichment, pathway enrichment, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analyses among significant DEGs.

RESULTS:

According to our analyses, significant DEGs majorly associate with smooth muscle system and the complement system. Among all DEGs, five down-regulated genes (MYH11, CNN1, MYOCD, ACTA1, and LMOD1) and three up-regulated genes (C1QB, C3AR1, and VSIG4) are most relevant in IA formation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Key DEGs identified in this study are related to IA pathogenesis. Among identified DEGs, LMOD1 is more significant and deserves more attention.

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