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Bioinformatics analysis of CUL2/4A/9 and its function in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Affiliations- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Key Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Women and Children’s Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
open access
Abstract
Introduction: Several previous studies have shown that differential expression of cullin (CUL) family proteins may be involved in mediation of the signal transduction pathways associated with cancer. However, the function of CULs is still unclear in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Material and methods: We used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, cBioPortal, Metascape, STRING, Cytoscape, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Kaplan-Meier plotter, and Tumor Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB) to access the expression of CULs and the possible correlation with the tumourigenesis, development, prognosis, immunity, and transcriptional level of CULs in HNSCC. Furthermore, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect messenger ribonucleid acid (mRNA) levels in HNSCC tissues and cell samples. We also explored the cell proliferation and migration separately by CCK8 assay and wound healing assay.
Results: The results showed that the expressions of CUL2/4A were upregulated and CUL9 was downregulated in HNSCC patients as compared with normal patients. CUL2/4A/9 were also linked to the clinicopathological features and overall survival of HNSCC in bioinformatics analysis. Moreover, we noticed that CUL2/4A/9 may take part in tumour-specific immune response by modulating the tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and immunomodulators. Lastly, we found that CUL2/4A/9 could promote cellular proliferation and migration.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the transcriptional levels of CUL2/4A/9 were upregulated and these genes could affect proliferation and migration of HNSCC cells. Therefore, CUL2/4A/9 could potentially function as novel independent biomarkers in HNSCC patients.
Abstract
Introduction: Several previous studies have shown that differential expression of cullin (CUL) family proteins may be involved in mediation of the signal transduction pathways associated with cancer. However, the function of CULs is still unclear in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Material and methods: We used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, cBioPortal, Metascape, STRING, Cytoscape, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Kaplan-Meier plotter, and Tumor Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB) to access the expression of CULs and the possible correlation with the tumourigenesis, development, prognosis, immunity, and transcriptional level of CULs in HNSCC. Furthermore, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect messenger ribonucleid acid (mRNA) levels in HNSCC tissues and cell samples. We also explored the cell proliferation and migration separately by CCK8 assay and wound healing assay.
Results: The results showed that the expressions of CUL2/4A were upregulated and CUL9 was downregulated in HNSCC patients as compared with normal patients. CUL2/4A/9 were also linked to the clinicopathological features and overall survival of HNSCC in bioinformatics analysis. Moreover, we noticed that CUL2/4A/9 may take part in tumour-specific immune response by modulating the tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and immunomodulators. Lastly, we found that CUL2/4A/9 could promote cellular proliferation and migration.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the transcriptional levels of CUL2/4A/9 were upregulated and these genes could affect proliferation and migration of HNSCC cells. Therefore, CUL2/4A/9 could potentially function as novel independent biomarkers in HNSCC patients.
Keywords
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; cullin; prognosis; proliferation; migration
About this articleTitle
Bioinformatics analysis of CUL2/4A/9 and its function in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
315-330
Published online
2023-06-21
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1540
Article views/downloads
446
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2023;74(3):315-330.
Keywords
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
cullin
prognosis
proliferation
migration
Authors
Bingqing Xu
Ruohuang Wang
Jisheng Zhang
Lin Wang
Xin Cui
Fangyu Chai
Xiaoyun Du
Yan Jiang
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