Application of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Tools to Identify Putative Transcription Factor-Gene Regulatory Network of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Sarcoidosis

Commun Stat Theory Methods. 2009 Jan 1;38(18):3326-3338. doi: 10.1080/03610920902898472.

Abstract

Transcription factors and corresponding cis-regulatory elements are considered key components in gene regulation. We combined biostatistics and bioinformatics tools to streamline identification of putative transcription factor-gene regulatory networks unique for two immune-mediated diseases, ankylosing spondylitis and sarcoidosis. After identifying differentially expressed genes from microarrays, we employed tightCluster to find tight clusters of potentially co-regulated genes. By subsequently applying bioinformatics tools to search for common cis-regulatory elements, putative transcription factor-gene regulatory networks were found. Recognition of these networks by applying this methodology could pave the way for new insights into disease pathogenesis.