Bioinformatics analysis uncovers vital targets and potential small molecule drugs for neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

In neonates, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains highly destructive with serious impacts on life. Discovering useful biomarkers and potential drugs for treating neonatal NEC is of great importance. Data were acquired from GSE226086, a gene expression dataset from neonatal small intestine-derived epithelial cells treated with polymicrobial enteric bacteria isolated from a neonate who died of NEC for 24 h or 72 h. Differentially expressed genes between 24 h NEC or 72 h NEC and the corresponding groups were identified, followed by bioinformatics analysis. Furthermore, potential small molecule drugs targeting neonatal NEC were predicted. The dysregulated genes were identified in 24 h and 72 NEC samples compared to control samples, with 420 up-regulated and 1285 down-regulated genes at 24 h, and 337 up-regulated and 10306 down-regulated genes at 72 h (using a threshold of adj.P.val < 0.01 and |log2FC= > 1). Furthermore, 36 hub genes were screened for neonatal NEC between 24 h NEC and 72 NEC. Moreover, 24 core targets were further screened and ten small molecule compounds were predicted to have interactions with these core targets. This study explored the potential targets or pathways and predicted the potential drugs for neonatal NEC, providing more understanding for pathogenesis and treatment.