MicroRNA-433-3p enhances chemosensitivity of glioma to cisplatin by downregulating NR5A2

Role of Protein Regulators of Cholesterol Homeostasis in Immune Modulation and Cancer Pathophysiology

Cholesterol metabolism and homeostasis have emerged as important factors governing various aspects of cancer biology. Clinical associations between circulating cholesterol and poor prognosis or use of cholesterol-lowering medication and improved prognosis have been noted for several different solid tumors. Mechanistically, cholesterol has many different direct and indirect effects on cancer cells themselves but is also critically involved in shaping the function of other cells of the tumor microenvironment, especially immune cells. There are 2 major feedback loops regulating cholesterol homeostasis. Here we highlight the major proteins involved in the so-called oxysterol-bile acid feedback loop and discuss how each has been implicated in cancer biology. We focus on roles within the immune system with implications for cancer. Given that many of these proteins are enzymes or nuclear receptors, both of which are amenable to small molecule intervention, we posit that this axis may represent a promising area for therapeutic intervention.

NR5A2 gene affects the overall survival of LUAD patients by regulating the activity of CSCs through SNP pathway by OCLR algorithm and immune score

Objective

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumor stem cells were screened, and the biological characteristics of NR5A2 gene were investigated.

Methods

The expression and prognosis of NR5A2 in human LUAD were predicted and analyzed through bioinformatics analysis from a human cancer database. Gene expression and clinical data of LUAD tumor and normal lung tissues were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and DEGs associated with lung cancer tumor stem cells (CSCs) were screened. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to screen and establish prognostic risk prediction models. The immune function of the patients was scored according to the model, and the relative immune functions of the high- and low-risk groups were compared to determine the difference in survival prognosis between the two groups. In addition, we calculated the index of stemness based on the transcriptome of the samples using one-class linear regression (OCLR).

Results

Bioinformatics analysis of a clinical cancer database showed that NR5A2 was significantly decreased in human LUAD tissues than in normal lung tissues, and the decrease in NR5A2 gene expression shortened the overall survival and progression-free survival of patients with LUAD.

Conclusion

The NR5A2 gene may regulate LUAD tumor stem cells through selective splicing mutations, thereby affecting the survival and prognosis of patients with lung cancer, and the NR5A2 gene may regulate CSCs through single nucleotide polymorphism.

Identification of Lower Grade Glioma Antigens Based on Ferroptosis Status for mRNA Vaccine Development

Purpose

mRNA vaccines represent a promising and innovative strategy within the realm of cancer immunotherapy. However, their efficacy in treating lower-grade glioma (LGG) requires evaluation. Ferroptosis exhibits close associations with the initiation, evolution, and suppression of cancer. In this study, we explored the landscape of the ferroptosis-associated tumor microenvironment to facilitate the development of mRNA vaccines for LGG patients.

Patients and Methods

Genomic and clinical data of the LGG patients was obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases. Ferroptosis-related tumor antigens were identified based on differential expression, mutation status, correlation with antigen-presenting cells, and prognosis, relevance to immunogenic cell death (ICD). Antigen expression levels in LGG specimens and cell lines were validated using real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Consensus clustering was employed for patient classification. The immune landscapes of ferroptosis subtypes were further characterized, including immune responses, prognostic ability, tumor microenvironment, and tumor-related signatures.

Results

Five tumor antigens, namely, HOTAIR, IDO1, KIF20A, NR5A2, and RRM2 were identified in LGG. RT-PCR demonstrated higher expression of these genes in LGG compared to the control. Twelve gene modules and four ferroptosis subtypes (FS1-FS4) of LGG were defined. FS2 and FS4, characterized as "cold" tumors due to their decreased tumor mutation burden (TMB) and immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs), were deemed appropriate candidates for the mRNA vaccine.

Conclusion

HOTAIR, IDO1, KIF20A, NR5A2, and RRM2 were identified as promising candidate antigens for the development of an LGG mRNA vaccine, particularly offering potential benefits to FS2 and FS4 patients.