Blood transcriptome analysis of the crosstalk between ELF1 and OA

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative disease affecting multiple joints. It is characterized by joint pain, morning stiffness, and deformity, which causes limb instability and disability, seriously damaging the quality of life.Here, we identified apolipoprotein ELF1(E74-like factor 1) as a biomarkerand potential therapeutic target for OA. Methods The expression of ELF1 was detected in OA by Gene Expression Omnibus ( GEO ), immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR. Bioinformatics methods ( protein-protein interaction ( PPI ) network, gene ontology ( GO ), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes ( KEGG ) pathway and gene set enrichment analysis ( GSEA ) ) were used to show the downstream genes and pathways of ELF1 in OA. Results The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that common DEGs were primarily concentrated in the nucleus and inflammatory response-related signaling pathways. We identified Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), ESF1 Nucleolar Pre-RRNA Processing Protein Homolog (ESF1), Jun Proto-Oncogene, AP-1 Transcription Factor Subunit (JUN), JunD Proto-Oncogene, AP-1 Transcription Factor Subunit (JUND), Protein Phosphatase 1 Regulatory Subunit 15A (PPP1R15A) and ZFP36 Ring Finger Protein (ZFP36) as six downstream hub genes of ELF1. Next, we evaluated the biological function of ELF1 by flow cytometry and CCK-8, and we verified the role of ELF1 in OA chondrocytes. Conclusions In conclusion, ELF1 regulates CDKN1A, ESF1, JUN, JUND, PPP1R15A, ZFP36 expression and chondrocyte function, and may have great potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for OA.