Gene co-expression network analysis identifies the hub genes associated with immune functions for nocturnal hemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the final stage of chronic kidney disease in which the kidney is not sufficient to meet the needs of daily life. It is necessary to understand the role of genes expression involved in ESRD patient responses to nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) and to improve the immunity responsiveness. The aim of this study was to investigate novel immune-associated genes that may play important roles in patients with ESRD. The microarray expression profiles of peripheral blood in patients with ESRD before and after NHD were analyzed by network-based approaches, and then using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis to explore the biological process and molecular functions of differentially expressed genes. Subsequently, a transcriptional regulatory network of the core genes and the connected transcriptional regulators was constructed. We found that NHD had a significant effect on neutrophil activation and immune response in patients with ESRD. In addition, Our findings suggest that MAPKAPK3, RHOA, ARRB2, FLOT1, MYH9, PRKCD, RHOG, PTPN6, MAPK3, CNPY3, PI3KCG, and PYGL genes maybe potential targets regulated by core transcriptional factors, including ARNT, C/EBPalpha, CEBPA, CREB1, PSG1, DAND5, SP1, GATA1, MYC, EGR2, and EGR3.