Role of glycolysis related genes in the pathogenesis of hemorrhoids and immune cell infiltration analysis

Hemorrhoids are a prevalent condition affecting the anorectal area. Recent studies have highlighted glycolysis as a crucial metabolic pathway in numerous diseases. However, systematic studies exploring the distinct functions of the seven glycolysis-related genes (GRGs) during hemorrhoid development are limited. This investigation sought to elucidate the function of GRGs in hemorrhoid development and their correlation with immune cell infiltration. Using bioinformatics methodologies, we performed differential expression analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), establishment of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and analysis of immune infiltration. We identified 34 glycolysis-related differentially expressed genes (GRDEGs) in the GSE154650 dataset, including PCK1, ALDOB, and PCK2. GO and KEGG analyses showed a considerable increase of GRDEGs in monosaccharide and glucose metabolic processes and AMPK signaling cascades. PPI network analysis identified seven hub genes (HGs) that may act as essential regulatory nodes and potential drug targets. Additionally, we found notable associations between the infiltration patterns of monocytes and plasma cells and particular HGs, highlighting the significance of the immune microenvironment. This study established a foundation for subsequent functional validation and exploration of innovative therapeutic strategies targeting glycolysis-related pathways in hemorrhoids.