Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common malignancy of the genitourinary system and is associated with high mortality rates. However, the molecular mechanism of ccRCC pathogenesis is still unclear, which translates to few effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In this study, we conducted a bioinformatics analysis on three Gene Expression Omnibus datasets and identified 437 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to ccRCC development and prognosis, of which 311 and 126 genes are respectively down-regulated and up-regulated. The protein–protein interaction network of these DEGs consists of 395 nodes and 1872 interactions and 2 prominent modules. The Staphylococcus aureus infection and complement and coagulation cascades are significantly enriched in module 1 and are likely involved in ccRCC progression. Forty-two hub genes were screened, of which von Willebrand factor, TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1, plasminogen, formimidoyltransferase cyclodeaminase, solute carrier family 34 member 1, hydroxyacid oxidase 2, alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 are possibly related to the prognosis of ccRCC. The differential expression of all nine genes was confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of the ccRCC and normal renal tissues. These key genes are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ccRCC and warrant further investigation.

中文翻译：

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通过生物信息学分析鉴定与透明细胞肾细胞癌相关的潜在关键基因和关键途径。

透明细胞肾细胞癌（ccRCC）是泌尿生殖系统的常见恶性肿瘤，且死亡率高。然而，ccRCC发病机理的分子机制仍不清楚，这转化为很少有效的诊断和预后生物标志物。在这项研究中，我们对三个基因表达综合数据集进行了生物信息学分析，确定了437个与ccRCC发育和预后相关的差异表达基因（DEG），其中分别有311个和126个基因被下调和上调。这些DEG的蛋白质间相互作用网络由395个节点和1872个相互作用以及2个突出模块组成。在金黄色葡萄球菌感染以及补体和凝血级联在模块1中显着丰富，并可能参与ccRCC进展。筛选了42个中枢基因，其中von Willebrand因子，TIMP金属肽酶抑制剂1，纤溶酶原，甲酰亚胺基转移酶环脱氨酶，溶质载体家族34成员1，羟酸氧化酶2，丙氨酸-乙醛酸氨基转移酶2，磷酸烯醇丙酮酸羧激酶1和3-羟基- 3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A合酶2可能与ccRCC的预后有关。通过对ccRCC和正常肾脏组织进行实时定量聚合酶链反应分析，确认了所有9个基因的差异表达。这些关键基因是ccRCC诊断和预后的潜在生物标志物，值得进一步研究。