Bioinformatics analysis to identify action targets in NCI-N87 gastric cancer cells exposed to quercetin

<b>Context:</b> Quercetin exerts antiproliferative effects on gastric cancer. However, its mechanisms of action on gastric cancer have not been comprehensively revealed. <b>Objective:</b> We investigated the mechanisms of action of quercetin against gastric cancer cells. <b>Materials and methods:</b> Human NCI-N87 gastric cancer cells were treated with 15 μM quercetin or dimethyl sulfoxide (as a control) for 48 h. DNA isolated from cells was sequenced on a HiSeq 2500, and the data were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between groups. Then, enrichment analyses were performed for DEGs and a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Finally, the transcription factors (TFs)-DEGs regulatory network was visualized by Cytoscape software. <b>Results:</b> A total of 121 DEGs were identified in the quercetin group. In the PPI network, Fos proto-oncogene (FOS, degree = 12), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR, degree = 12), Jun proto-oncogene (JUN, degree = 11), and cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 1 (CYP1A1, degree = 11) with higher degrees highly interconnected with other proteins. Of the 5 TF-DEGs, early growth response 1 (<i>EGR1)</i>, FOS like 1 (<i>FOSL1</i>), <i>FOS</i>, and <i>JUN</i> were upregulated, while <i>AHR</i> was downregulated. Moreover, <i>FOSL1</i>, <i>JUN</i>, and Wnt family member 7B (<i>WNT7B</i>) were enriched in the Wnt signaling pathway. <b>Discussion and conclusions:</b> CYP1A1 highly interconnected with AHR in the PPI network. Therefore, <i>FOS</i>, <i>AHR</i>, <i>JUN</i>, <i>CYP1A1</i>, <i>EGR1</i>, <i>FOSL1</i>, and <i>WNT7B</i> might be targets of quercetin in gastric cancer.