Abstract
Ingenuity® iReport™ is a new web based tool used to quickly understand gene expression data and identify additional evidenced-backed biological insights using millions of curated published discoveries. Using previously published data from a study by Lee et al. (Respir. Res. 2010. 11:147), we tested the tool's ability to correctly identify expected results and gain biological insights. Lee et al performed gene expression analysis on human type-I like alveolar epithelial cells that were mock infected or infected with A/Hong Kong/54/1998 (seasonal H1N1) or A/Hong Kong/415742/2009 (pandemic H1N1). We generated two separate iReports from this dataset: one comparing mock infection to seasonal H1N1 infection and another comparing mock infection to pandemic H1N1 infection. The iReport identified 321 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for the seasonal H1N1 infection samples compared to mock infection based (1.5-fold change expression cutoff; p-value cutoff of <0.05). The iReport pathway analysis indicated that the top three affected pathways were “Interferon Signaling,” “Role of Pattern Recognition Receptors in Recognition of Bacteria and Viruses,” and “Role of Hypercytokinemia in the Pathogenesis of Influenza.” The top three affected processes were “Antiviral Response,” “Attraction of Natural Killer Cells,” and “Attraction of T Lymphocytes.” Ingenuity iReport analysis of the pandemic H1N1 infection samples identified 102 DEGs compared to mock infection (1.5-fold change; p <0.05). The iReport indicated that the top three affected pathways were “Interferon Signaling,” “Activation of IRF by Cytosolic Pattern Recognition Receptors,” and “Role of Pattern Recognition Receptors in Recognition of Bacteria and Viruses.” The top three affected processes were “Antiviral Response,” “Antimicrobial Response,” and “Immune Response.” The pathway and process results that were highlighted by Ingenuity iReport were in general agreement with those presented by Lee et al. In addition, the Ingenuity iReport expounded upon the findings presented by Lee et al and provided additional genes of interest for future studies.