Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41614904›Full record

ArticleCurrent issues in molecular biology2026

Mitochondria-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Biomarkers in Coronary Heart Disease and Atherosclerosis: A Transcriptomic and Mendelian Randomization Study.

Junyan Zhang, Ran Zhang, Li Rao, Chenyu Tian, Shuangliang Ma, Chen Li, Yong He, Zhongxiu Chen

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Article in Current issues in molecular biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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8 authors.

Junyan ZhangDepartment of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Ran ZhangDepartment of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4458-8454
Li RaoDepartment of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Chenyu TianWest China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Shuangliang MaDepartment of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Chen LiDepartment of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yong HeDepartment of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhongxiu ChenDepartment of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

Funding

the Natural Science Foundation of China 82100282 and 82071735the Tianfu Famous Doctors Program under the "Tianfu Qingcheng Project."
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCoronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) have recently emerged as critical mediators in cardiovascular pathophysiology; however, their specific contributions to CHD pathogenesis remain largely unexplored.

objectiveThis study aimed to identify and validate MAM-related biomarkers in CHD through integrated analysis of transcriptomic sequencing data and Mendelian randomization, and to elucidate their underlying mechanisms.

methodsWe analyzed two gene expression microarray datasets (GSE113079 and GSE42148) and one genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataset (ukb-d-I9_CHD) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with CHD. MAM-related DEGs were filtered using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Functional enrichment analysis, Mendelian randomization, and machine learning algorithms were employed to identify biomarkers with direct causal relationships to CHD. A diagnostic model was constructed to evaluate the clinical utility of the identified biomarkers. Additionally, we validated the two hub genes in peripheral blood samples from CHD patients and normal controls, as well as in aortic tissue samples from a low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR-/-) atherosclerosis mouse model.

resultsWe identified 4174 DEGs, from which 3326 MAM-related DEGs (DE-MRGs) were further filtered. Mendelian randomization analysis coupled with machine learning identified two biomarkers, DHX36 and GPR68, demonstrating direct causal relationships with CHD. These biomarkers exhibited excellent diagnostic performance with areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve exceeding 0.9. A molecular interaction network was constructed to reveal the biological pathways and molecular mechanisms involving these biomarkers. Furthermore, validation using peripheral blood from CHD patients and aortic tissues from the Ldlr-/- atherosclerosis mouse model corroborated these findings.

conclusionsThis study provides evidence supporting a mechanistic link between MAM dysfunction and CHD pathogenesis, identifying candidate biomarkers that have the potential to serve as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets for CHD. While the validated biomarkers offer valuable insights into the molecular pathways underlying disease development, additional studies are needed to confirm their clinical relevance and therapeutic potential in larger, independent cohorts.

Indexed as

coronary heart diseasediagnostic modelmachine learningmendelian randomizationMitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs)

Identifiers

PMID41614904
PMCPMC12840513

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