Prognosis Prediction of Disulfidptosis-Related Genes in Bladder Cancer and a Comprehensive Analysis of Immunotherapy

Prognostic model based on disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs for predicting survival and therapeutic response in bladder cancer

Background

With poor treatment outcomes and prognosis, bladder cancer remains a focus for clinical research in the precision oncology era. However, the potential of disulfidptosis, a novel cell death mechanism, and its related long non-coding RNAs to support selective cancer cell killing in this disease is still unclear.

Methods

We identified key disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs in bladder cancer, constructed a prognostic risk model with potential therapeutic targets, and confirmed the findings through quantitative PCR analysis.

Results

We identified five crucial lncRNAs (AC005840.4, AC010331.1, AL021707.6, MIR4435-2HG and ARHGAP5-AS1) and integrated them into a predictive model centered on disulfidptosis-associated lncRNAs. Reliability and validity tests demonstrated that the lncRNA prediction index associated with disulfidptosis effectively discerns patients' prognosis outcomes. Additionally, high-risk patients exhibited elevated expression levels of genes involved in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, extracellular matrix organization, and immune escape mechanisms, which are associated with poor prognosis. Notably, high-risk patients demonstrated higher sensitivity to Sorafenib, Oxaliplatin and MK-2206, underscoring the promise of these lncRNAs as precise therapeutic targets in bladder cancer.

Conclusion

By revealing the predictive importance of disulfidptosis-associated lncRNAs in bladder cancer, our research offers new perspectives and pinpoints potential therapeutic targets in clinical environments.

Identification and Characterisation of Potential Targets for N6-methyladenosine (m6A) Modification during Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

BACKGROUND

The mechanism for RNA methylation during disc degeneration is unclear. The aim of this study was to identify N6-methyladenosine (m6A) markers and therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

METHODS

Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) were employed to analyze m6A modifications of IDD-related gene expression. Bioinformatics was used to identify enriched gene pathways in IDD. m6A-RIP-qPCR was used to validate potential targets and markers.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Human IDD samples exhibited a distinct m6A modification pattern that allowed associated genes and pathways to be identified. These genes had functions such as "nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) binding" and "extracellular matrix components", which are crucial for IDD pathogenesis. ANXA2 showed increased m6A modification in IDD, while SLC3A2 and PBX3 showed decreased m6A methylation. The results of this study offer novel insights for the prevention and treatment of IDD.

Therapeutic Potential of lncRNAs in Regulating Disulfidptosis for Cancer Treatment

Non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in various cellular processes, including a novel form of regulated cell death known as disulfidptosis, characterized by accumulating protein disulfide bonds and severe endoplasmic reticulum stress. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of lncRNAs in regulating disulfidptosis for cancer treatment, emphasizing their influence on key pathway components such as GPX4, SLC7A11, and PDIA family members. Recent studies have demonstrated that targeting specific lncRNAs can sensitize cancer cells to disulfidptosis, offering a promising approach to cancer therapy. The regulation of disulfidptosis by lncRNAs involves various signaling pathways, including oxidative stress, ER stress, and calcium signaling. This review also discusses the molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNA regulation of disulfidptosis, the challenges of developing lncRNA-based therapies, and the future potential of this rapidly advancing field in cancer research.

Disulfidptosis: A new type of cell death

Disulfidptosis is a novel form of cell death that is distinguishable from established programmed cell death pathways such as apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and oxeiptosis. This process is characterized by the rapid depletion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) in cells and high expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) during glucose starvation, resulting in abnormal cystine accumulation, which subsequently induces andabnormal disulfide bond formation in actin cytoskeleton proteins, culminating in actin network collapse and disulfidptosis. This review aimed to summarize the underlying mechanisms, influencing factors, comparisons with traditional cell death pathways, associations with related diseases, application prospects, and future research directions related to disulfidptosis.

Bioinformatics Identification and Experimental Verification of Disulfidptosis-Related Genes in the Progression of Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling and highly prevalent condition affecting millions worldwide. Recently discovered, disulfidptosis represents a novel form of cell death induced by the excessive accumulation of cystine. Despite its significance, a systematic exploration of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in OA is lacking.

METHODS

This study utilized three OA-related datasets and DRGs. Differentially expressed (DE)-DRGs were derived by intersecting the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from GSE114007 with DRGs. Feature genes underwent screening through three machine learning algorithms. High diagnostic value genes were identified using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Hub genes were confirmed through expression validation. These hub genes were then employed to construct a nomogram and conduct enrichment, immune, and correlation analyses. An additional validation of hub genes was performed through in vitro cell experiments.

RESULTS

SLC3A2 and PDLIM1 were designated as hub genes, displaying excellent diagnostic performance. PDLIM1 exhibited low expression in early chondrocyte differentiation, rising significantly in the late stage, while SLC3A2 showed high overall expression, declining in the late differentiation stage. Cellular experiments corroborated the correlation of SLC3A2 and PDLIM1 with chondrocyte inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Two hub genes, SLC3A2 and PDLIM1, were identified in relation to disulfidptosis, providing potential directions for diagnosing and treating OA.

Pan-cancer analysis of the disulfidptosis-related gene RPN1 and its potential biological function and prognostic significance in gliomas

Background

Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between disulfidptosis and various cancers. However, the expression and function of RPN1, a crucial gene in disulfidptosis, remain unclear in the context of cancer.

Methods

Gene expression and clinical information on lung adenocarcinoma were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. RPN1 expression was analyzed using the Timer2.0 and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases. Prognostic significance was assessed using Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves. Genetic mutations and methylation levels were examined using the cBioPortal and UALCAN platforms, respectively. The relationship between RPN1 and tumor mutation burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) across different cancer types was analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. The relationship between RPN1 and immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the Timer2.0 database, whereas variations in drug sensitivity were explored using the CellMiner database. Receiver operating characteristic curves validated RPN1's diagnostic potential in glioma, and its correlation with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis elucidated a link between RPN1 and immune cells and pathways. In addition, a nomogram based on RPN1 was developed to predict patient prognosis. The functional impact of RPN1 on glioma cells was confirmed using scratch and Transwell assays.

Result

RPN1 was aberrantly expressed in various cancers and affected patient prognosis. The main mutation type of RPN1 in the cancer was amplified. RPN1 exhibited a positive correlation with myeloid-derived suppressor cells, neutrophils, and macrophages, and a negative correlation with CD8+ T cells and hematopoietic stem cells. RPN1 expression was associated with TMB and MSI in various cancers. The expression of RPN1 affected drug sensitivity in cancer cells. RPN1 was positively correlated with multiple ICIs in gliomas. RPN1 also affected immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. RPN1 was an independent prognostic factor for gliomas, and the nomogram demonstrated excellent predictive performance. Interference with RPN1 expression reduces the migratory and invasive ability of glioma cells.

Conclusion

RPN1 exerts multifaceted effects on different stages of cancer, including immune infiltration, prognosis, and treatment outcomes. RPN1 expression affects the prognosis and immune microenvironment infiltration in patients with glioma, making RPN1 a potential target for the treatment of glioma.

Establishment of a prognostic risk prediction model incorporating disulfidptosis-related lncRNA for patients with prostate cancer

PURPOSE

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the major tumor diseases that threaten men's health globally, and biochemical recurrence significantly impacts its prognosis. Disulfidptosis, a recently discovered cell death mechanism triggered by intracellular disulfide accumulation leading to membrane rupture, is a new area of research in the context of PCa. Currently, its impact on PCa remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the correlation between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with disulfidptosis and the prognosis of PCa, seeking potential connections between the two.

METHODS

Transcriptomic data for a PCa cohort were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DDRLs) were identified through differential expression and Pearson correlation analysis. DDRLs associated with biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) were precisely identified using univariate Cox and LASSO regression, resulting in the development of a risk score model. Clinical factors linked to BRFS were determined through both univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. A prognostic nomogram combined the risk score with key clinical variables. Model performance was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, Decision Curve Analysis (DCA), and calibration curves. The functional impact of a critical DDRL was substantiated through assays involving CCK8, invasion, migration, and cell cloning. Additionally, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for the disulfidptosis-related protein SLC7A11 was conducted.

RESULTS

The prognostic signature included AC026401.3, SNHG4, SNHG25, and U73166.1 as key components. The derived risk score from these signatures stood as one of the independent prognostic factor for PCa patients, correlating with poorer BRFS in the high-risk group. By combining the risk score with clinical variables, a practical nomogram was created, accurately predicting BRFS of PCa patients. Notably, silencing AC026401.3 significantly hindered PCa cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and colony formation. IHC staining revealed elevated expression of the dithiosulfatide-related protein SLC7A11 in tumor tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel prognostic signature for PCa DDRLs, possessing commendable predictive power, has been constructed, simultaneously providing potential therapeutic targets associated with disulfidptosis, among which AC026401.3 has been validated in vitro and demonstrated inhibition of PCa tumorigenesis after its silencing.