Machine learning and bioinformatics framework integration reveal potential characteristic genes related to immune cell infiltration in post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition with a high incidence rate and widespread influence, but its pathophysiological mechanism is unknown, and existing treatment options have limited efficacy. Exploration of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PTSD aids in the understanding of its pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies. Human PTSD sample data were retrieved from public databases, merged, and corrected to eliminate bias. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were then evaluated using bioinformatics tools, and the pathological mechanism was investigated using GO, KEGG, DO, and GSEA enrichment analyses. Furthermore, key genes were identified using machine learning methods, and gene interaction was investigated by establishing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and screening for hub genes. A total of 524 DEGs were identified, 236 were upregulated and 288 were downregulated. Enrichment analysis revealed an association of PTSD with inflammation and immune responses. The identification of 50 key genes and 9 hub genes (e.g., CEBPA, MMP13) adds to our understanding of the occurrence and development mechanisms of PTSD. Additionally, immune infiltration studies of PTSD patients revealed differences in distinct immune cells. This study investigates the occurrence and development pathways of PTSD by combining machine learning and bioinformatics methods. Potential biomarkers of PTSD have been identified. The findings provide theoretical references for the development of potential therapeutic strategies and an understanding of the immune regulatory mechanisms of PTSD.