In the CN, 21 modules with a median size of 352 genes (range: 64–7259) were identified. Module “e-CN-magenta”, consisting of 328 genes, showed the strongest positive association with AUD status (r = 0.42, p = 2.89 × 10−4). In the PUT, of the 25 modules (median size 249 genes, range: 33–5381) identified, module “e-PUT-black” was most strongly correlated with AUD with a positive direction of effect (r = 0.41, p = 2.31 × 10−4). For expression data from the ventral striatum, 16 modules with a median size of 429 genes (range: 35–9 708) were identified; module “e-VS-pink” had the strongest positive association with AUD (r = 0.41, p = 0.009). Interestingly, in a GO-term analysis the three AUD-associated modules were all enriched for immune processes, such as “defense response” and “inflammation response”. Gene network representation of hub genes in modules “e-CN-magenta”, “e-VS-pink”, and “e-PUT-black” revealed the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene as a conserved hub node in all three brain regions (Fig. 2D–F). There was also a wide overlap of the genes in the three modules:
