Ischemic stroke (IS) remains a devastating condition with limited neuroprotective options. This study investigated the role of the transcription factor inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (ID3) in acute IS through an integrated approach. Combining bioinformatic analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets with machine learning (ML) algorithms, we identified ID3 as a consistently downregulated key gene, and its expression level correlated with neurological severity. Functional analysis suggested ID3 modulates neuroinflammation. Furthermore, ID3 and C-type lectin domain family 4 member E (CLEC4E) showed potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Using network pharmacology, pantothenic acid (PA) was predicted as a potential ID3-targeting drug. This was preliminarily tested in an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model, where PA treatment specifically upregulated ID3, ameliorated neuronal electrophysiological dysfunction, and restored action potential amplitude. Our work provides the first integrative evidence suggesting ID3 as a pivotal protective factor in acute IS and nominates PA as a candidate for further development as a neuroprotective agent.
Chen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.