Abstract: Objective Microarray and bioinformatics analysis were performed to explore the pathogenesis and the key genes coding for the development of pulmonary artery hypertension(PAH). Methods The differential expression microarray data in PAH mice(data from both current research and NCBI database with accession number GSE 48936) were analyzed simultaneously. Results 1)Totally 112 differentially expressed genes were obtained by the combined analysis of the two sets of data. 2)These genes were mainly enriched in biological processes such as inflammatory process, defense response, and stress response. 3)These genes were chiefly involved in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway and the effect of cytochrome p450 on the metabolism of exogenous substances. 4)The 112 genes were analyzed by string database, 10 central genes (CD68, CD86, CCL6, ms4a6d, CXCL10, C3ar1, CXCL9, C1qA, C1qB and Ctss)with high degree scores were screened out. Three significant modules were selected by using the MCODE of Cytoscape software and involving genes mainly enriched in inflammatory response, positive regulation of leukocyte migration, IL-17 signaling pathway and regulation of defense response. Conclusions These genes are potentially involved in the development of PAH and this conclusion may facilitate identification of pathogenesis of PAH.

Key words: pulmonary artery hypertension, genechip, bioinformatics analysis, different expression genes