ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Abida Khan1 , Hayat Ali Alzahrani2, Ranya Mohammed Elmagzoub2, Khadiga G. Abd Elaleem3,4, Ahlam S. Mohamed5, Aida A. Elsharief6, Hayaa M Alhuthali7 and Zia Ur Rehman8,9
1Center for Health Research, Northern Border University, Arar 73213, Saudi Arabia.
2Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
3Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, AL Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
4Preparatory Year, Department of Basic Sciences, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
5Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia.
6College of Applied Sciences, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan.
7Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
8Health Research Centre, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia.
9Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Article Number: 10327 | © The Author(s). 2025
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2025;19(3):1868-1888. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.19.3.12
Received: 20 February 2025 | Accepted: 06 May 2025 | Published online: 05 August 2025
Issue online: September 2025
Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and tuberculosis (TB) are major global health burdens that often coexist, potentially amplifying disease severity through shared inflammatory and immune dysregulation mechanisms. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular interplay between these diseases, providing insights that could inform targeted therapies. Through integrative analyses, including differential gene expression, pathway enrichment, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and tissue-specific expression profiling, we identified 38 genes central to the shared pathophysiology of COPD and TB. Key genes such as RELA, RELB, and PLK3 were consistently upregulated, underscoring their roles in chronic inflammation and immune signaling, while downregulated genes like IKBIP and MS4A6A highlighted suppressed immune pathways, potentially linked to immune evasion strategies. Pathway enrichment revealed significant involvement of NF-κB signaling, cytokine-mediated pathways, and metabolic adaptations, emphasizing their relevance in maintaining inflammation and pathogen persistence. PPI analysis identified regulatory hubs such as STAT1 and guanylate-binding proteins (GBP5, GBP1), highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. Tissue-specific expression pinpointed the lungs and whole blood as critical sites of transcriptional activity, while single-cell RNA sequencing localized dysregulated genes to alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells, revealing their cell-specific roles in disease progression. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the shared molecular mechanisms underpinning COPD and TB, emphasizing immune signaling and metabolic regulation as potential therapeutic avenues. Further experimental validation and multi-omics studies are essential to translate these insights into clinical applications, addressing the complex interplay of these coexisting diseases.

Keywords

COPD, Tuberculosis, Molecular Signatures, DEG, Systems Biology, PPI, Transcriptomics

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© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.