According to the PPI network of DEGs, 13 out of 446 genes displayed an elevated degree of interaction and were upregulated in UC patients: CXCL13, CXCL10, CXCL9, CXCL8, CCL19, CTLA4, CD69, CD163, CCR1, PECAM1, IL7R,TLR8 and TLR2. Chemokines can significantly increase chronic inflammation and intestinal tissue destruction in IBD through their ability to induce chemotaxis and leukocyte activation40. This evidence concerns the gene IL7R and inflammatory bowel disease.