Identification and mechanistic analysis of core genes associated with morphine tolerance in dorsal root ganglion: an integrative transcriptomics approach using WGCNA and machine learning algorithms

However, the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), a key relay station in peripheral nociceptive transmission, has received limited attention. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular regulatory roles of DRG in morphine tolerance using RNA sequencing and integrative bioinformatics approaches. In order to conduct this research, A murine model of morphine tolerance was established across multiple treatment time points.

Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on harvested DRG tissues.  Using the expression matrix as the foundation, a weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was constructed to identify co-expressed gene modules. Candidate genes were subsequently screened through the integration of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis with key WGCNA modules. These candidates underwent functional annotation via Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses.