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Deng Z, Luo J, Ma J, Jin YN, Yu YV. Glutathione metabolism-related gene signature predicts prognosis and treatment response in low-grade glioma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:9518-9546. [PMID: 38819225 PMCID: PMC11210255 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells can induce molecular changes that reshape cellular metabolism, creating specific vulnerabilities for targeted therapeutic interventions. Given the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor development and drug resistance, and the abundance of reduced glutathione (GSH) as the primary cellular antioxidant, we examined an integrated panel of 56 glutathione metabolism-related genes (GMRGs) across diverse cancer types. This analysis revealed a remarkable association between GMRGs and low-grade glioma (LGG) survival. Unsupervised clustering and a GMRGs-based risk score (GS) categorized LGG patients into two groups, linking elevated glutathione metabolism to poorer prognosis and treatment outcomes. Our GS model outperformed established clinical prognostic factors, acting as an independent prognostic factor. GS also exhibited correlations with pro-tumor M2 macrophage infiltration, upregulated immunosuppressive genes, and diminished responses to various cancer therapies. Experimental validation in glioma cell lines confirmed the critical role of glutathione metabolism in glioma cell proliferation and chemoresistance. Our findings highlight the presence of a unique metabolic susceptibility in LGG and introduce a novel GS system as a highly effective tool for predicting the prognosis of LGG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaidong Deng
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Youngnam N. Jin
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanxun V. Yu
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Wang J, Du Q, Chen J, Liu J, Gu Z, Wang X, Zhang A, Gao S, Shao A, Zhang J, Wang Y. Tumor treating fields in glioblastoma: long-term treatment and high compliance as favorable prognostic factors. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1345190. [PMID: 38571508 PMCID: PMC10987822 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1345190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Tumor treating fields (TTFields) have earned substantial attention in recent years as a novel therapeutic approach with the potential to improve the prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) patients. However, the impact of TTFields remains a subject of ongoing debate. This study aimed to offer real-world evidence on TTFields therapy for GBM, and to investigate the clinical determinants affecting its efficacy. Methods We have reported a retrospective analysis of 81 newly diagnosed Chinese GBM patients who received TTFields/Stupp treatment in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression models with time-dependent covariates were utilized to address non-proportional hazards and to assess the influence of clinical variables on PFS and OS. Results The median PFS and OS following TTFields/STUPP treatment was 12.6 months (95% CI 11.0-14.1) and 21.3 months (95% CI 10.0-32.6) respectively. Long-term TTFields treatment (>2 months) exhibits significant improvements in PFS and OS compared to the short-term treatment group (≤2 months). Time-dependent covariate COX analysis revealed that longer TTFields treatment was correlated with enhanced PFS and OS for up to 12 and 13 months, respectively. Higher compliance to TTFields (≥ 0.8) significantly reduced the death risk (HR=0.297, 95%CI 0.108-0.819). Complete surgical resection and MGMT promoter methylation were associated with significantly lower risk of progression (HR=0.337, 95% CI 0.176-0.643; HR=0.156, 95% CI 0.065-0.378) and death (HR=0.276, 95% CI 0.105-0.727; HR=0.249, 95% CI 0.087-0.710). Conclusion The TTFields/Stupp treatment may prolong median OS and PFS in GBM patients, with long-term TTFields treatment, higher TTFields compliance, complete surgical resection, and MGMT promoter methylation significantly improving prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Quan Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiarui Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianjian Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhaowen Gu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Anke Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shiqi Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Anwen Shao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- Brain Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongjie Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
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He S, Su L, Hu H, Liu H, Xiong J, Gong X, Chi H, Wu Q, Yang G. Immunoregulatory functions and therapeutic potential of natural killer cell-derived extracellular vesicles in chronic diseases. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1328094. [PMID: 38239346 PMCID: PMC10795180 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1328094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proven to play a significant immunoregulatory role in many chronic diseases, such as cancer and immune disorders. Among them, EVs derived from NK cells are an essential component of the immune cell functions. These EVs have been demonstrated to carry a variety of toxic proteins and nucleic acids derived from NK cells and play a therapeutic role in diseases like malignancies, liver fibrosis, and lung injury. However, natural NK-derived EVs (NKEVs) have certain limitations in disease treatment, such as low yield and poor targeting. Concurrently, NK cells exhibit characteristics of memory-like NK cells, which have stronger proliferative capacity, increased IFN-γ production, and enhanced cytotoxicity, making them more advantageous for disease treatment. Recent research has shifted its focus towards engineered extracellular vesicles and their potential to improve the efficiency, specificity, and safety of disease treatments. In this review, we will discuss the characteristics of NK-derived EVs and the latest advancements in disease therapy. Specifically, we will compare different cellular sources of NKEVs and explore the current status and prospects of memory-like NK cell-derived EVs and engineered NKEVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang He
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Lanqian Su
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Haiyang Hu
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Haiqi Liu
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jingwen Xiong
- Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiangjin Gong
- Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Hao Chi
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Qibiao Wu
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
| | - Guanhu Yang
- Department of Specialty Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
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Zhou Y, Cao Y, Liu W, Wang L, Kuang Y, Zhou Y, Chen Q, Cheng Z, Huang H, Zhang W, Jiang X, Wang B, Ren C. Leveraging a gene signature associated with disulfidptosis identified by machine learning to forecast clinical outcomes, immunological heterogeneities, and potential therapeutic targets within lower-grade glioma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1294459. [PMID: 38162649 PMCID: PMC10757341 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1294459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Disulfidptosis, a newly defined type of programmed cell death, has emerged as a significant regulatory process in the development and advancement of malignant tumors, such as lower-grade glioma (LGG). Nevertheless, the precise biological mechanisms behind disulfidptosis in LGG are yet to be revealed, considering the limited research conducted in this field. Methods We obtained LGG data from the TCGA and CGGA databases and performed comprehensive weighted co-expression network analysis, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, and transcriptome differential expression analyses. We discovered nine genes associated with disulfidptosis by employing machine learning methods like Cox regression, LASSO regression, and SVM-RFE. These were later used to build a predictive model for patients with LGG. To confirm the expression level, functional role, and impact on disulfidptosis of ABI3, the pivotal gene of the model, validation experiments were carried out in vitro. Results The developed prognostic model successfully categorized LGG patients into two distinct risk groups: high and low. There was a noticeable difference in the time the groups survived, which was statistically significant. The model's predictive accuracy was substantiated through two independent external validation cohorts. Additional evaluations of the immune microenvironment and the potential for immunotherapy indicated that this risk classification could function as a practical roadmap for LGG treatment using immune-based therapies. Cellular experiments demonstrated that suppressing the crucial ABI3 gene in the predictive model significantly reduced the migratory and invasive abilities of both SHG44 and U251 cell lines while also triggering cytoskeletal retraction and increased cell pseudopodia. Conclusion The research suggests that the prognostic pattern relying on genes linked to disulfidptosis can provide valuable insights into the clinical outcomes, tumor characteristics, and immune alterations in patients with LGG. This could pave the way for early interventions and suggests that ABI3 might be a potential therapeutic target for disulfidptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zhou
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yudong Cao
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Weidong Liu
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yirui Kuang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Quan Chen
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zeyu Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Haoxuan Huang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xingjun Jiang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Binbin Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Caiping Ren
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Liu Y, Wu Z, Fu Z, Han Y, Wang J, Zhang Y, Liang B, Tao Y, Zhang Y, Shen C, Xu Y, Yin S, Chen B, Liu Y, Pan H, Liang Z, Wu K. A predictive model of immune infiltration and prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on cell adhesion-related genes: including molecular biological validation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1190678. [PMID: 37691922 PMCID: PMC10484396 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1190678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Focal adhesion serves as a bridge between tumour cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) and has multiple roles in tumour invasion, migration, and therapeutic resistance. However, studies on focal adhesion-related genes (FARGs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are limited. Methods Data on HNSCC samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and GSE41613 datasets, and 199 FARGs were obtained from the Molecular Signatures database. The integrated datasets' dimensions were reduced by the use of cluster analysis, which was also used to classify patients with HNSCC into subclusters. A FARG signature model was developed and utilized to calculate each patient's risk score using least extreme shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis. The risk score was done to quantify the subgroups of all patients. We evaluated the model's value for prognostic prediction, immune infiltration status, and therapeutic response in HNSCC. Preliminary molecular and biological experiments were performed to verify these results. Results Two different HNSCC molecular subtypes were identified according to FARGs, and patients with C2 had a shorter overall survival (OS) than those with C1. We constructed an FARG signature comprising nine genes. We constructed a FARG signature consisting of nine genes. Patients with higher risk scores calculated from the FARG signature had a lower OS, and the FARG signature was considered an independent prognostic factor for HNSCC in univariate and multivariate analyses. FARGs are associated with immune cell invasion, gene mutation status, and chemosensitivity. Finally, we observed an abnormal overexpression of MAPK9 in HNSCC tissues, and MAPK9 knockdown greatly impeded the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HNSCC cells. Conclusion The FARG signature can provide reliable prognostic prediction for patients with HNSCC. Apart from that, the genes in this model were related to immune invasion, gene mutation status, and chemosensitivity, which may provide new ideas for targeted therapies for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhechen Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ziyue Fu
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yanxun Han
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | | | - Yanqiang Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Bingyu Liang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ye Tao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | | | - Yidan Xu
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Siyue Yin
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Bangjie Chen
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yehai Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Haifeng Pan
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhang Liang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kaile Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Xu W, Jiang T, Shen K, Zhao D, Zhang M, Zhu W, Liu Y, Xu C. GADD45B regulates the carcinogenesis process of chronic atrophic gastritis and the metabolic pathways of gastric cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1224832. [PMID: 37608794 PMCID: PMC10441793 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1224832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Gastric cancer continues to be a significant global healthcare challenge, and its burden remains substantial. The development of gastric cancer (GC) is closely linked to chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), yet there is a scarcity of research exploring the underlying mechanisms of CAG-induced carcinogenesis. Methods In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the oncogenes involved in CAG using both bulk transcriptome and single-cell transcriptome data. Our approach employed hdWGCNA to identify pathogenic genes specific to CAG, with non-atrophic gastritis (NAG) serving as the control group. Additionally, we compared CAG with GC, using normal gastric tissue as the control group in the single-cell transcriptome analysis. By intersecting the identified pathogenic genes, we pinpointed key network molecules through protein interaction network analysis. To further refine the gene selection, we applied LASSO, SVM-RFE, and RF techniques, which resulted in a set of cancer-related genes (CRGs) associated with CAG. To identify CRGs potentially linked to gastric cancer progression, we performed a univariate COX regression analysis on the gene set. Subsequently, we explored the relationship between CRGs and immune infiltration, drug sensitivity, and clinical characteristics in gastric cancer patients. We employed GSVA to investigate how CRGs regulated signaling pathways in gastric cancer cells, while an analysis of cell communication shed light on the impact of CRGs on signal transmission within the gastric cancer tumor microenvironment. Lastly, we analyzed changes in metabolic pathways throughout the progression of gastric cancer. Results Using hdWGCNA, we have identified a total of 143 pathogenic genes that were shared by CAG and GC. To further investigate the underlying mechanisms, we conducted protein interaction network analysis and employed machine learning screening techniques. As a result, we have identified 15 oncogenes that are specifically associated with chronic atrophic gastritis. By performing ROC reanalysis and prognostic analysis, we have determined that GADD45B is the most significant gene involved in the carcinogenesis of CAG. Immunohistochemical staining and differential analysis have revealed that GADD45B expression was low in GC tissues while high in normal gastric tissues. Moreover, based on prognostic analysis, high expression of GADD45B has been correlated with poor prognosis in GC patients. Additionally, an analysis of immune infiltration has shown a relationship between GADD45B and the infiltration of various immune cells. By correlating GADD45B with clinical characteristics, we have found that it primarily affects the depth of invasion in GC. Through cell communication analysis, we have discovered that the CD99 signaling pathway network and the CDH signaling pathway network are the main communication pathways that significantly alter the microenvironment of gastric tissue during the development of chronic atrophic gastritis. Specifically, GADD45B-low GC cells were predominantly involved in the network communication of the CDH signaling pathway, while GADD45B-high GC cells played a crucial role in both signaling pathways. Furthermore, we have identified several metabolic pathways, including D-Glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism and N-Glycan biosynthesis, among others, that played important roles in the occurrence and progression of GC, in addition to the six other metabolic pathways. In summary, our study highlighted the discovery of 143 pathogenic genes shared by CAG and GC, with a specific focus on 15 oncogenes associated with CAG. We have identified GADD45B as the most important gene in the carcinogenesis of CAG, which exhibited differential expression in GC tissues compared to normal gastric tissues. Moreover, GADD45B expression was correlated with patient prognosis and is associated with immune cell infiltration. Our findings also emphasized the impact of the CD99 and CDH signaling pathway networks on the microenvironment of gastric tissue during the development of CAG. Additionally, we have identified key metabolic pathways involved in GC progression. Conclusion GADD45B, an oncogene implicated in chronic atrophic gastritis, played a critical role in GC development. Decreased expression of GADD45B was associated with the onset of GC. Moreover, GADD45B expression levels were closely tied to poor prognosis in GC patients, influencing the infiltration patterns of various cells within the tumor microenvironment, as well as impacting the metabolic pathways involved in GC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tianxiao Jiang
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kanger Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dongxu Zhao
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenxin Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kunshan Third People’s Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunfei Liu
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Chunfang Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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