Bioinformatics Identification and Experimental Validation of Ferroptosis- and Immune Infiltration-Associated Biomarkers in Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS) continues to pose a significant threat to human health. Few studies have explored the connection between ferroptosis-related genes and immune infiltration in the context of IS. Initially, 303 differentially expressed genes were identified, from which four characteristic genes were distinguished, all validated for their excellent diagnostic efficacy. Animal experiments confirmed significant brain injury and Ferroptosis post-ischemia-reperfusion in rats, with increased expression of Sdcbp, Ppia, and Sec61g, but no change in Rpl22. Furthermore, these key genes were closely associated with levels of immune infiltration. Notably, Rpl22 and Ppia were regulated by nine common transcription factors. Sdcbp and Rpl22 were most abundantly expressed in Microglia, and Ppia in Oligodendrocytes, while Sec61g exhibited lower overall expression, all showing high activity in immune metabolic pathways. Bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification indicate that Sdcbp, Ppia, and Sec61g are associated with ferroptosis and immune infiltration in IS, and hold promise as therapeutic targets for IS treatment.