Pyroptosis-related genes GSDMB, GSDMC, and AIM2 polymorphisms are associated with risk of non-small cell lung cancer in a Chinese Han population

Xia Zhang; Rongfeng Liu

doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1212465

Pyroptosis-related genes GSDMB, GSDMC, and AIM2 polymorphisms are associated with risk of non-small cell lung cancer in a Chinese Han population

Front Genet. 2023 Jun 9:14:1212465. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1212465. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xia Zhang¹, Rongfeng Liu²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
² Department of Medical Oncology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.

Abstract

Background: Pyroptosis is essential for the remodeling of tumor immune microenvironment and suppression of tumor development. However, there is little information available about pyroptosis-related gene polymorphisms in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Six SNPs in the GSDMB, GSDMC, and AIM2 were genotyped in 650 NSCLC cases and 650 healthy controls using a MassARRAY platform. Results: Minor alleles of rs8067378, rs2305480, and rs77681114 were associated with a lower risk of NSCLC (p < 0.005), whereas rs2290400 and rs1103577 were related to an increased risk (p < 0.00001). Moreover, rs8067378-AG/GG, rs2305480-GA/AA, and rs77681114-GA/AA genotypes were associated with a decrease in NSCLC risk (p < 0.005). In contrast, the TC/CC genotypes of rs2290400 and rs1103577 were associated with an elevated NSCLC risk (p < 0.0001). Based on the analysis of genetic models, minor alleles of rs8067378, rs2305480 and rs77681114 were related to reduced risk of NSCLC (p < 0.05); whereas rs2290400 and rs1103577 were related to increased risk (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our findings provided new insights into the roles of pyroptosis-related genes in NSCLC, as well as new factors to be considered for assessing the risk of developing this cancer.

Keywords: absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2); gasdermin (GSDM); non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); polymorphisms; pyroptosis.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Key Program of Medicine and Science Foundation of Hebei Province (20230874), the Program for Young Scholars of Medicine and Science Foundation of Hebei Province (20180576, 20120354).