Exploring Hub Genes of Terahertz Wave Irradiation in the Mouse Cerebral Cortex via Bioinformatic Analyses

In recent years, breakthroughs have been made in terahertz source and detection technologies, which have driven the research of terahertz applications within various fields. Research in terahertz biophysics has progressed rapidly, with notable advances in disease treatment, cognitive function, ion exchange, and gene regulation. The potential applications of terahertz in biomedicine are also coming to the forefront. Terahertz wave irradiation appears to regulate gene expression in biological systems at the molecular level through non-thermal effects. It is positive that terahertz wave irradiation can be specific for gene regulation, which makes it possible as a new type of non-contact therapy. In this study, the cerebral cortex of mice is irradiated at 34.5 THz based on quantum cascade laser (QCL). By RNA-Seq and based on String database, we built a protein-protein interaction(PPI) network and identified 10 hub genes, including Cd68, Fcgr3, Itgb2, Ccl5, Aif1, Casp1, Cx3cl1, Cd33, Cd44, and Trem2. In this study, we explored the hub genes in the mouse cerebral cortex after 34.5 terahertz wave irradiation.