Figure 4

Direct signaling pathways, cell processes and disease-related signaling pathways among the upregulated and downregulated genes identified in response to tobacco-flavored e-liquid. Genes with red shading are upregulated, and genes with blue shading are downregulated. The genes that showed high connectivity in the pathways included IL6 (interleukin 6), PTGS2 (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2), CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8), JUN (Jun proto-oncogene), FOS (Fos proto-oncogene), and TP53 (tumor protein 53). Among these genes, IL6, PTGS2 and CXCL8 are involved in inflammatory pathways, and JUN, FOS, and TP53 are transcription factors associated with numerous interactions. Cell processes and diseases related to inflammation (red rectangle), carcinogenesis (blue rectangle), oxidative stress (orange rectangle), lung disease (brown rectangle) and arterial disease (purple rectangle) showed numerous relationships in the biological signaling networks among the DEGs of the tobacco-flavored e-liquid-treated group. Schematic legends are located on the left side of the figure. Up- and downregulated genes are highlighted with red and blue, respectively.