Abstract:Objective To screen podocyte damage related critical genes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Methods Podocyte damage related database of GSE66107, GSE93798, GSE30528, GSE32591 were explored from gene expression GEO database. The R software package was used for data pre-processing. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified for those with FDR < 0.05 and fold change ≥ 1.5. DEG in GSE993395 data was analyzed by WGCNA. According to the functional annotation of Gene Ontology (GO) and the podocyte standard gene (PSG) which were reported in literatures, the podocyte injury-associated modules were defined, and the hub gene is selected according to the average connectivity degree of the module (Kwithin). Then Cytoscape software and plugin Clugo was utilized for network visualization. Results Totally 7957 DEGs were picked out by comparing the expressed data of normal subject and podocyte or glomerulus under typical damage conditions, including 15 DEG that were differently expressed in 4 GSEs. About 4031 DEGs were screened by WGCNA, and 12 gene modules were identified. Green module contained most coDEGs or PSGs, which was suggested as podocyte injury-assosiated module. Furthermore, MAGI2 gene was one of the hub genes that was coDEG and PSG. Conclusions WGCNA is an efficient system for screening of target genes; MAGI2 may play an important role in podocyte damage in CKD.