Abstract TMP114: Time-based Dynamic Analyses of Gene Expression in Monocytes, Neutrophils and Whole Blood Identify Key Hub Genes and Functional Processes Following Acute Ischemic Stroke

Gene expression changes in peripheral blood reflect injury and repair processes occurring post ischemic stroke (IS). Our study explored the dynamic time-dependent expression of key genes involved in the immune response after IS to better understand the biology and to identify specific diagnostic biomarkers. Using RNA-sequencing, we analyzed gene expression profiles of 38 IS patients and 18 controls with at least one vascular risk factor (VRFC) including diabetes and/or hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia in isolated monocytes, neutrophils and whole blood. We used two approaches: Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) with respect to time after stroke onset; and differential expression analyses with subject samples split into time points (TPs) from stroke onset (TP0=VRFC; TP1=0-24 h; TP2=24-48 h; and TP3≥48 h). In WGCNA, highly interconnected “hub” genes were identified for modules significant to time (p<0.05). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with diagnosisхTP p<0.02 and fold-change>