Identification of potential crucial cuproptosis-related genes in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through the bioinformatic analysis

Background: Cuproptosis is known to regulate diverse physiological functions in many diseases, but its role in regulating Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (MI/RI) remains unclear. Methods: For this purpose, the MI/RI microarray datasets GSE61592 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the Differently Expressed Genes (DEGs) in MI/RI were identified using R software. Moreover, the MI/RI mice model was established to confirm further the diagnostic value of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase B (Pdhb), Dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (Dlat), and Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha 1 (Pdh alpha 1). Results: The analysis of microarray datasets GSE61592 revealed that 798 genes were upregulated and 768 were downregulated in the myocardial tissue of the ischemia-reperfusion injury mice. Furthermore, Dlat, Pdhb, Pdh alpha 1, and cuproptosis-related genes belonged to the downregulated genes. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis results indicated that the Dlat, Pdhb, and Pdh alpha 1 levels were downregulated in MI/RI and were found to be potential biomarkers for MI/RI diagnosis and prognosis. Similarly, analysis of Dlat, Pdhb, and Pdh alpha 1 levels in the MI/RI mice revealed Pdhb being the key diagnostic marker. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the prognostic value of cuproptosis-related genes (Dlat, Pdhb, and Pdh alpha 1), especially Pdhb, MI/RI, providing new insight into the MI/RI treatment.