Transcriptome sequencing reveals core regulation modules and gene signatures of Zusanli acupoints in response to different moxibustion warm stimulation in adjuvant arthritis rat

This study aimed to characterize the molecular map and potential key genes in the process of different moxibustion warm at Zusanli acupoint treatment of adjuvant arthritis (AA) model. Transcriptome sequencing, series test of cluster (STC) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were used in this study. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened in nine difference comparison groups and a total of 4535 DEGs were identified, and these DEGs were preferentially clustered in inflammatory and immune-related pathways, such as MAPK signaling pathway. Only one DEG of heat shock protein 90, alpha (cytosolic), class A member 1 (Hsp90aa1) was shared in comparison groups of model with moxibustion treatment. STC revealed that Hsp90aa1 also observed in the most significant pattern of Profile ID 47 which expression pattern was increased in AA model, but decreased after 37 Centigrade moxibustion intervention, and constantly decreased after 42 Centigrade moxibustion treatment. GO and KEGG pathway analysis revealed that these genes enriched in inflammatory and immune-related pathways. Moreover, WGCNA identified seven modules, among them the violet module was positively correlated with model temperature while negatively correlated with control, and the paleturquoise module was positively correlated with model. The violet and paleturquoise module gene were also significantly enriched in B cell signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. Importantly, Hsp90aa1 also observed in violet module and played a central role in the violet module by interacting to multiple proteins. We obtained the transcriptome profile and the core WGCNA modules, and excavate a critical gene of Hsp90aa1, and provided insight into gene signatures and potential molecular target for moxibustion warm at Zusanli acupoint in AA rat.