Integrated bioinformatics analysis and in vitro validation reveal Dasatinib and Acetalax as novel therapeutic candidates for treating moderate to severe forms of ulcerative colitis

We analyzed transcriptomic alterations, immune infiltration, and candidate drugs in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) using integrative bioinformatics and in vitro validation. Thirty persistently dysregulated genes were identified and externally validated, with neutrophils emerging as a key immune component correlated with HSD11B2, SPP1, and FAM55A. Drug prediction and molecular docking highlighted Dasatinib and Acetalax as candidate compounds. In LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells, both drugs improved viability and modulated inflammation-related gene and protein expression. These findings provide hypothesis-generating evidence that Dasatinib and Acetalax may have therapeutic relevance in moderate-to-severe UC.