Investigation of key ferroptosis-associated genes and potential therapeutic drugs for asthma based on machine learning and regression models

Bronchial asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease, with ferroptosis, a form of non-apoptotic cell death, contributing to its pathogenesis by inducing airway epithelial damage, inflammatory infiltration, and airway remodeling. Investigating ferroptosis-related characteristic genes and potential therapeutic compounds may enhance asthma management. This study employed differential analysis and machine learning to identify ferroptosis-related characteristic genes in asthma using the GSE179156 dataset and FerrDb V2 database. Immune infiltration analysis explored the associations between these genes and immune cells, while potential small-molecule drugs were screened through the Connectivity Map (CMap) database and evaluated via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Two ferroptosis-related characteristic genes, AGPS and APELA, were identified, with AGPS upregulated and APELA downregulated in asthma, both significantly correlated with various immune cells. A diagnostic model based on these genes demonstrated high predictive accuracy. Additionally, KU-55933 was identified as a potential small-molecule inhibitor of AGPS, with stable binding confirmed through computational simulations. These findings emphasize the role of ferroptosis-related genes in asthma and propose promising therapeutic candidates, providing novel insights into its diagnosis and treatment.