Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42736720›Full record

ArticleMedicine2026

Identification of potential key genes involved in iron deficiency for sepsis: A retrospective cohort and transcriptomic study.

Zehong Wu, Zhangqing Yi, Hanyi Yao, Dongping Li, Haojie Zhou, Jiaming Wu, Yuyang Huang, Weizhi Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medicine, 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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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Zehong WuDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Zhangqing YiDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Hanyi YaoDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Dongping LiDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Haojie ZhouDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Jiaming WuDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Yuyang HuangDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Weizhi ZhangDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Funding

China Medical Board OC program 21-426Municipal Natural Science Foundation of Changsha kq2502109
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Iron overload has been associated with sepsis, but the role of iron deficiency and its molecular links remain unclear. We investigated the association between iron deficiency and sepsis and identified candidate genes potentially linking these conditions. MIMIC-IV data were used to assess the association between serum iron and sepsis status. Transcriptomic datasets from dietary iron-deficient mice (GSE10421), LPS-induced septic mice (GSE267388), and a human blood sepsis cohort (GSE137340) were sequentially analyzed to identify and externally evaluate candidate genes. IEU Open GWAS summary statistics were used for exploratory Mendelian randomization (MR). Exploratory drug prediction was performed using L1000FWD, followed by molecular docking analysis. Patients with sepsis had significantly lower serum iron levels, and restricted cubic spline analysis showed a nonlinear association between serum iron and the odds of sepsis. Cross-tissue transcriptomic analysis identified Sqle, Lss, and Rdh11 as candidate genes. In the human blood cohort, SQLE and RDH11 were significantly increased, whereas LSS was not significantly altered. Exploratory MR showed that genetically proxied SQLE expression was associated with higher odds of sepsis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23, P = 1.67 × 10-3), whereas LSS expression was associated with lower odds (OR = 0.97, P = 8.90 × 10-4); RDH11 showed no significant association (OR = 1.01, P = .90). Drug prediction identified ML106 as the top-ranked candidate drug, and molecular docking predicted potential binding poses with SQLE and LSS. Serum iron showed a nonlinear association with sepsis status. SQLE, LSS, and RDH11 emerged as candidate genes, with concordant expression changes of SQLE and RDH11 observed in human blood. MR findings for SQLE and LSS were exploratory and require further validation. ML106 was identified through exploratory drug prediction and requires experimental validation before its therapeutic relevance can be established.

Indexed as

Anemia, Iron-DeficiencyIron DeficienciesSepsisTranscriptomeAnimalsFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansIronMaleMiceMolecular Docking SimulationRetrospective StudiesIroniron deficiencyMendelian randomizationMIMIC-IVsepsistranscriptomics

Identifiers

PMID42736720
PMCPMC13574409

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