Background:Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a rapidly progressive
form of glomerulonephritis for which effective therapeutic drugs are currently lacking, and its underlying
mechanism remains unclear.Aims:This study aimed to investigate new treatment options for AAV through a combination of bioinformatics
analysis and cell molecular experiments.Methods:The research utilized integrated bioinformatics analysis to identify genes with differential expression,
conduct enrichment analysis, and pinpoint hub genes associated with AAV. Potential therapeutic compounds
for AAV were identified using Connectivity Map and molecular docking techniques. In vitro experiments
were then carried out to examine the impact and mechanism of apilimod on endothelial cell injury induced
by MPO-ANCA-positive IgG.Results:The findings revealed a set of 374 common genes from differentially expressed genes and key modules
of WGCNA, which were notably enriched in immune and inflammatory response processes. A proteinprotein
interaction network was established, leading to the identification of 10 hub genes, including TYROBP,
PTPRC, ITGAM, KIF20A, CD86, CCL20, GAD1, LILRB2, CD8A, and COL5A2. Analysis from Connectivity
Map and molecular docking suggested that apilimod could serve as a potential therapeutic cytokine inhibitor
for ANCA-GN based on the hub genes. In vitro experiments demonstrated that apilimod could mitigate
tight junction disruption, endothelial cell permeability, LDH release, and endothelial activation induced by
MPO-ANCA-positive IgG. Additionally, apilimod treatment led to a significant reduction in the expression of
proteins involved in the TLR4/NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis pathways.Conclusion:This study sheds light on the potential pathogenesis of AAV and highlights the protective role of
apilimod in mitigating MPO-ANCA-IgG-induced vascular endothelial cell injury by modulating the TLR4/
NF-kB and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis pathway. These findings suggest that apilimod may
hold promise as a treatment for AAV and warrant further investigation.