Open AccessPLCG2 as a potential indicator of tumor microenvironment remodeling in soft tissue sarcoma
Author(s) -
Zhengtian Li,
Rong Zhao,
Weibo Yang,
Chan Li,
Jun Huang,
Zhenpei Wen,
Gang Du,
Lingling Jiang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.59
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1536-5964
pISSN - 0025-7974
DOI - 10.1097/md.0000000000025008
Subject(s) - stromal cell , tumor microenvironment , immune system , cancer research , biology , gene expression profiling , transcriptome , cd8 , medicine , gene expression , gene , immunology , genetics
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). A number of studies have shown that to inhibit tumor growth, the TME can be remodeled into an environment unsuitable for tumor proliferation. However, a lack of understanding exists regarding the dynamic regulation of TME. In this study, we used CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE calculation methods from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to calculate the proportion of tumor infiltrating immune cells (TICs) and the number of immune and stromal components in 263 STS samples. Differential expression genes (DEGs) shared by Immune Score and Stromal Score were obtained via difference analysis. Univariate Cox regression analysis and construction of protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were applied to the DEGs. Through intersection analysis of univariate COX and PPI, PLCG2 was determined as the indicator. Further analysis showed that PLCG2 expression was positively correlated with the survival of STS patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that genes in the highly expressed PLCG2 group were enriched in immune-related activities. In the low-expression PLCG2 group, genes were enriched in the E2F, G2M, and MYC pathways. Difference analysis and correlation analysis showed that CD8 + T cells, gamma delta T cells, monocytes, and M1 macrophages were positively correlated with PLCG2 expression, indicating that PLCG2 may represent the immune status of TME. Therefore, the level of PLCG2 may aid in determining the prognosis of STS patients, especially the status of TME. These data provide additional insights into the remodeling of TME.