Precision Drug Repurposing: A Deep Learning Toolkit for Identifying 34 Hyperpigmentation-Associated Genes and Optimizing Treatment Selection.

Background: Hyperpigmentation is a skin disorder characterized by a localized darkening of the skin due to increased melanin production. When patients fail first line topical treatments, secondary treatments such as chemical peels and lasers are offered. However, these interventions are not devoid of risks and are associated with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. In the quest for novel therapeutic potentials, this study aims to investigate computational methods in the identification of new targeted therapies in the treatment of hyperpigmentation.

Methods: We used a comprehensive approach, which integrated text mining, interpreting gene lists through enrichment analysis and integration of diverse biological information (GeneCodis), protein-protein association networks and functional enrichment analyses (STRING), and plug-in network centrality parameters (Cytoscape) to pinpoint genes closely associated with hyperpigmentation. Subsequently, analysis of drug-gene interactions to identify potential drugs (Cortellis) was utilized to select drugs targeting these identified genes. Lastly, we used Deep Learning Based Drug Repurposing Toolkit (DeepPurpose) to conduct drug-target interaction predictions to ultimately identify candidate drugs with the most promising binding affinities.

Results: Thirty-four hyperpigmentation-related genes were identified by text mining. Eight key genes were highlighted by utilizing GeneCodis, STRING, Cytoscape, gene enrichment, and protein-protein interaction analysis. Thirty-five drugs targeting hyperpigmentation-associated genes were identified by Cortellis, and 29 drugs, including 16 M2PK1 inhibitors, 11 KRAS inhibitors, and 2 BRAF inhibitors were recommended by DeepPurpose.

Conclusions: The study highlights the promise of advanced computational methodology for identifying potential treatments for hyperpigmentation.