Biomedical identify the drugs between primary osteoporosis and sarcopenia

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 104; no. 28; p. e42975
• Main Authors: Chen, Zhangxin, Lin, Jianxing, Wang, Zhengjin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 11.07.2025
• Subjects: Aged; Computational Biology; Databases, Genetic; Diagnostic Accuracy Study; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Ontology; Humans; Osteoporosis - drug therapy; Osteoporosis - genetics; Protein Interaction Maps - genetics; Sarcopenia - drug therapy; Sarcopenia - genetics; potential drugs; osteoporosis; bioinformatics; sarcopenia
• ISSN: 1536-5964; 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000042975

With the aging population, the prevalence of sarcopenia and primary osteoporosis is increasing. However, the underlying mechanisms linking these 2 diseases remain unclear. The study aims to identify potential genes and pharmacological targets associated with both diseases through bioinformatics analysis. Datasets GSE35958 (primary osteoporosis) and GSE1428 (sarcopenia) were sourced from the gene expression omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes common to both conditions were identified, and functional roles were elucidated using gene ontology and Reactome pathway analyses. Protein-protein interaction networks and hub genes were analyzed using Cytoscape with the molecular complex detection plugin. Key gene expression profiles were validated by quantitative real-time PCR, and potential gene-drug interactions were explored using the drug-gene interaction database. The identified pharmacological agents contributed to the formulation of therapeutic strategies for both diseases. Our study identified 80 commonly expressed genes through the gene expression omnibus database. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was employed to categorize these genes into biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. Additionally, 6 Reactome pathways were identified (P < .05), leading to the characterization of 65 genes. The study conducted a protein-protein interaction analysis and employed molecular complex detection to evaluate a set of 65 genes, ultimately identifying 5 central genes. In this investigation, cancellous bone and muscle tissues from elderly individuals with osteoporosis and sarcopenia were subjected to quantitative real-time PCR validation. The analysis revealed that 5 genes were down-regulated in muscle tissue, whereas AXL, ERBB2, and GAB1 were up-regulated in bone tissue. Subsequently, these 5 genes were analyzed for drug-gene interactions, resulting in the identification of 13 Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs with potential therapeutic applications for osteoporosis and sarcopenia. The aforementioned 5 genes (AXL, GAB1, ERBB2, NRP2, and ESR1) along with 13 pharmacological agents represent promising candidates for enhancing the treatment of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Investigations into gene-drug correlations and analyses of potential pharmacotherapies offer novel insights for drug repurposing and the exploration of therapeutic pathways.