Biomarker discovery and diagnostic modeling in diabetic retinopathy: A bioinformatics analysis targeting inflammatory-angiogenic pathways.

This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the interplay between inflammation and angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy (DR), with focus on identifying inflammation- and angiogenesis-related differentially expressed genes (IRARDEGs) that are closely associated with DR progression. We examined the associated biological functions, signaling pathways, and regulatory networks and developed an early diagnostic model. By integrating the GSE102485 and GSE60436 datasets, 35 IRARDEGs were identified, among which HGF, RHOA, IGFBP3, and COL2A1 were selected as key genes to construct the diagnostic model. According to the enrichment analysis, the differentially expressed genes are closely involved in angiogenesis, extracellular matrix organization, and signaling pathways like AGE-RAGE and PI3K-Akt, underscoring their central role in modulating the DR microenvironment. This study systematically elucidates the molecular characteristics and regulatory mechanisms associated with inflammation and angiogenesis in DR pathogenesis and provides an efficient diagnostic tool based on a four-gene signature.