Objective: To perform a bioinformatics analysis of the gene chip associated with spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats

so as to provide new ideas for clarifying the molecular mechanism of secondary SCI. Methods: Firstly

data sets GSE464 and GSE45006 of rat SCI mRNA expression profile were downloaded from the GEO database. The R language limma package was used to screen differential expression genes (DEGs) of injured and normal spinal cord and obtain the intersection. Then GO

KEGG and GSEA analyses were performed. Subsequently

the STRING online tool and Cytoscape software were used to construct and visualize a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network

and the cytoHubba plug-in was used to select the hub gene. Finally

the GOSemSim package was used to predict interactions between proteins encoded by the hub gene. Results: A total of 226 DEGs were screened. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mainly involved in biological processes (BP)

which contained response of cells to inflammation

regulation of ions

regeneration and repair; mainly participated in the main cellular components (CC) including presynaptic membrane

axonal ends and neuron projection endpoints; mediated the molecular function (MF): ATP phosphorylation

structural composition of the cytoskeleton

and binding to calcium-dependent proteins. Enriched pathways were mainly TNF

AGE-RAGE

NF-κB and Toll-like receptors. A total of 10 hub genes were obtained

namely Tubb5

Prkcd

Anxa2

Gns

Fabp5

Ctsc

Lyz2

Gusb

Vat1

and Grn

and were closely related with SCI. Among them

Prkcd

Ctsc

Vat1

Gns and Lyz2 genes in SCI lacked studies

and were worthy of further study. Conclusion: This study identifies hub genes and signaling pathways that may be involved in secondary SCI

and provides a new theoretical basis for the molecular mechanism of secondary SCI.