TMEM71 is crucial for cell proliferation in lower-grade glioma and is linked to unfavorable prognosis.

in Cancer cell international by Jiabao Xie, Wanli Yu, Shikai Gui, Lunshan Peng, Juexian Xiao, Haitao Luo, Zujue Cheng

TLDR

  • TMEM71 is a potential prognostic biomarker for LGG and is strongly associated with the growth of LGG cells.
  • TMEM71 expression is correlated with immune-related characteristics and tumor mutation burden in LGG patients.

Abstract

Transmembrane protein 71 (TMEM71) is implicated in multiple cellular physiological functions and has been demonstrated to be crucial in the advancement of different cancerous growths. However, its specific function in low-grade glioma (LGG) remains unclear. We examined the expression patterns and prognostic importance of TMEM71 in various types of cancer by using pan-cancer analysis. The analyses of the correlations between TMEM71 expression and clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, biological functions, immune characteristics, and genomic variations in LGG were conducted based on its expression patterns. Finally, the expression level and biological function of TMEM71 in LGG were verified by executing in vitro studies. Abnormal elevation of TMEM71 expression level was associated with poor prognosis of many tumors including LGG. Both multivariate and univariate Cox regression analyses indicated that the expression of TMEM71 served as a standalone prognostic biomarker for LGG. The levels of TMEM71 expression were associated with immune-related characteristics, infiltration of immune cells, immune checkpoint genes (ICPGs) expression, and tumor mutation burden (TMB) in patients with LGG. In laboratory studies, elevated levels of TMEM71 were found to be involved in activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, promoting CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein D (CEBPD) expression, and ultimately affecting the growth and motility of LGG cells. TMEM71 is an independent prognostic indicator for LGG and is strongly associated with the growth of LGG cells, positioning it as a potential novel target for treatment.

Overview

  • The study investigates the expression patterns and prognostic importance of transmembrane protein 71 (TMEM71) in various types of cancer, focusing on its role in low-grade glioma (LGG).
  • The researchers employed pan-cancer analysis and examined the correlations between TMEM71 expression and clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, biological functions, immune characteristics, and genomic variations in LGG.
  • The study aimed to identify the specific function of TMEM71 in LGG and to explore its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • Abnormal elevation of TMEM71 expression level was associated with poor prognosis in many tumors, including LGG.
  • TMEM71 expression served as a standalone prognostic biomarker for LGG, as determined by multivariate and univariate Cox regression analyses.
  • The levels of TMEM71 expression were correlated with immune-related characteristics, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint genes (ICPGs) expression, and tumor mutation burden (TMB) in patients with LGG.

Implications and Future Directions

  • TMEM71 is an independent prognostic indicator for LGG and is strongly associated with the growth of LGG cells, positioning it as a potential novel target for treatment.
  • Future studies could investigate the mechanisms by which TMEM71 promotes the growth and motility of LGG cells and explore its potential as a therapeutic target.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of TMEM71 in LGG and its potential utility as a biomarker for patient prognosis and treatment response.
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