Differential gene expression in PBMCs: Insights into the mechanism how pulmonary tuberculosis increases lung cancer risk

Pre-existing of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) poses increased lung cancer risk, yet the molecular mechanisms remain inadequately understood. This study sought to elucidate the potential mechanisms by performing comprehensive analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with PTB, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Microarray assays were employed to analyze the DEGs in PBMCs of these patients. The analyses revealed that, compared to healthy controls, the number of differentially expressed LncRNA in PBMCs from patients with PTB, LUAD, and LUSC were 801, 8,541, and 7,796, respectively. Similarly, the differentially expressed mRNA in PBMCs from patients with PTB, LUAD, and LUSC were 629, 4,865, and 4,438, respectively. These differentially expressed transcripts represent significant resources for the identifying diagnostic and differential diagnostic biomarkers for lung cancer and PTB. Pathways enriched by dysregulated mRNAs in patients with PTB, LUAD, and LUSC were identified through GO and KEGG pathway analyses. The results indicated that 9 pathways including the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, and the MAPK signaling pathway were co-enriched across the PTB, LUAD, and LUSC groups, providing insights into the mechanisms by which PTB may increase the risk of cancer development and progression.