Abstract / Summary
Abstract Objectives: To investigate the potential molecular targets and underlying mechanisms of irisin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using network toxicology and molecular docking approaches.
Methods: Human irisin target genes were retrieved from Swiss Target Prediction, ChEMBL, and STITCH databases. HCC-associated genes were collected from GeneCards and OMIM databases. RNA-seq data analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The overlapping genes were used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and hub genes were identified using Cytoscape software. A prognostic risk model was established based on hub genes, and functional enrichment analysis was performed. Molecular docking was conducted to validate the binding affinity between irisin and hub proteins.
Results: A total of 93 potential targets were identified. Eight hub genes were significantly upregulated in HCC and associated with poor prognosis. The irisin-related prognostic signature was an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that irisin regulated HCC progression through pathways related to mitotic stability, cell cycle, and oncogenic activity. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities between irisin and all eight hub proteins.