The role of THBS1 and PDGFD in the immune microenvironment of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer

Yun Zhou; Shixiong Liu; Ya Zheng; Yuping Wang; Yongning Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.ajg.2024.02.001

The role of THBS1 and PDGFD in the immune microenvironment of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer

Arab J Gastroenterol. 2024 May 4:S1687-1979(24)00027-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ajg.2024.02.001. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yun Zhou¹, Shixiong Liu¹, Ya Zheng², Yuping Wang³, Yongning Zhou⁴

Affiliations

¹ The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Department of Geriatrics Gerontology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
² Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
³ Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China. Electronic address: wangyuping@lzu.edu.cn.
⁴ Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China. Electronic address: zhouyn@lzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38705811
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajg.2024.02.001

Abstract

Background and study aims: Immunotherapy has emerged as a hot topic in cancer treatment in recent years and has also shown potential in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer. However, there is still a need to identify potential immunotherapy targets.

Material and methods: We used the GSE116312 dataset of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer to identify differentially expressed genes, which were then overlapped with immune genes from the ImmPort database. The identified immune genes were used to classify gastric cancer samples and evaluate the relationship between classification and tumor mutations, as well as immune infiltration. An immune gene-based prognostic model was constructed, and the expression levels of the genes involved in constructing the model were explored in the tumor immune microenvironment.

Results: We successfully identified 60 immune genes and classified gastric cancer samples into two subtypes, which showed differences in prognosis, tumor mutations, immune checkpoint expression, and immune cell infiltration. Subsequently, we constructed an immune prognostic model consisting of THBS1 and PDGFD, which showed significant associations with macrophages and fibroblasts.

Conclusion: We identified abnormal expression of THBS1 and PDGFD in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor immune microenvironment, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Gastric cancer; Helicobacter pylori; Immune microenvironment; PDGFD; THBS1.