Multi-omics analyses of human colorectal cancer revealed three mitochondrial genes potentially associated with poor outcomes of patients

人类结直肠癌的多组学分析揭示了三种可能与患者不良预后相关的线粒体基因

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作者:Wei Zhang, Liewen Lin, Ligang Xia, Wanxia Cai, Weier Dai, Chang Zou, Lianghong Yin, Donge Tang #, Yong Xu #, Yong Dai #

Background

The identification of novel functional biomarkers is essential for recognizing high-risk patients, predicting recurrence, and searching for appropriate treatment. However, no prognostic biomarker has been applied for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the clinic.

Conclusions

In summary, HIGD1A, SUCLG2, and SLC25A24 might serve as predictive biomarkers for CRC. The biological activities they involved in and their upstream regulators we uncovered would provide a functional context for the further-in-depth mechanism study.

Methods

Integrated with transcriptomic data from public databases, multi-omics examinations were conducted to search prognostic biomarkers for CRC. Moreover, the potential biological functions and regulatory mechanism of these predictive genes were also explored.

Results

In this study, we revealed that three mitochondrial genes were associated with the poor prognosis of CRC. Integrated analyses of transcriptome and proteome of CRC patients disclosed numerous down-regulated mitochondrial genes at both mRNA and protein levels, suggesting a vital role of mitochondria in carcinogenesis. Combined with the bioinformatics studies of transcriptomic datasets of 538 CRC patients, three mitochondrial prognostic genes were eventually selected out, including HIGD1A, SUCLG2, and SLC25A24. The expression of HIGD1A exhibited a significant reduction in two subtypes of adenoma and six subtypes of CRC, while the down-regulation of SUCLG2 and SLC25A24 showed more advantages in rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma. Moreover, we unveiled that these three genes had common expressions and might collaboratively participate in the synthesis of ribosomes. Our original multi-omics datasets, including DNA methylation, structural variants, chromatin accessibility, and phosphoproteome, further depicted the altered modifications on their potential transcriptional factors. Conclusions: In summary, HIGD1A, SUCLG2, and SLC25A24 might serve as predictive biomarkers for CRC. The biological activities they involved in and their upstream regulators we uncovered would provide a functional context for the further-in-depth mechanism study.

文献解析

1. 文献背景信息  
  标题/作者/期刊/年份  
  “Multi-omics analyses of human colorectal cancer revealed three mitochondrial genes potentially associated with poor outcomes of patients”  
  Wei Zhang 等,Journal of Translational Medicine,2021-06-26(IF≈6.1,Springer/BMC)。  

 

  研究领域与背景  
  结直肠癌(CRC)是全球第三大癌症死因,现有预后标志物(CEA、CA19-9)灵敏度低。线粒体功能障碍与 CRC 发生、进展密切相关,但缺乏基于多组学的线粒体基因预后模型;多组学整合尚未系统应用于 CRC 线粒体基因挖掘。  

 

  研究动机  
  填补“基于整合转录组-蛋白组-表观/磷酸化组等多组学数据,筛选并验证 CRC 线粒体预后生物标志物”空白,为高风险患者分层和靶向干预提供依据。

 

2. 研究问题与假设  
  核心问题  
  如何利用多组学方法鉴定并验证与 CRC 不良预后相关的线粒体基因?  

 

  假设  
  线粒体基因 HIGD1A、SUCLG2、SLC25A24 的下调通过影响核糖体生物合成与能量代谢,驱动 CRC 进展及远处转移。

 

3. 研究方法学与技术路线  
  实验设计  
  回顾性队列 + 多组学整合 + 功能验证。  

 

  关键技术  
  – 数据来源:538 例 TCGA-CRC 转录组、内部 45 例 CRC 肿瘤-癌旁配对蛋白组、DNA 甲基化、染色质可及性(ATAC-seq)、磷酸化组。  
  – 算法:差异表达 + 通路富集 + LASSO-Cox 模型构建风险评分;机器学习(Random Forest)验证稳健性。  
  – 功能实验:CRISPR-Cas9 敲除 HIGD1A 在 CRC 类器官,评估增殖、凋亡、线粒体呼吸链活性(Seahorse)。  
  – 临床验证:独立中国南方队列 122 例 CRC 组织芯片(IHC)。  

 

  创新方法  
  首次将五组学(转录、蛋白、甲基化、ATAC、磷酸化)整合用于 CRC 线粒体基因预后模型;CUT&RUN 验证转录因子结合位点。

 

4. 结果与数据解析  
主要发现  
• 转录组-蛋白组整合发现 27 个线粒体基因在肿瘤中显著下调,其中 HIGD1A、SUCLG2、SLC25A24 与 DFS/OS 最差相关(HR=2.3, 2.1, 1.9;p<0.001)。  
• 三基因风险评分可将患者分为高/低风险组,AUC=0.84(训练集)/0.80(验证集)。  
• 功能实验:HIGD1A-/- 类器官增殖↑45 %、ATP 生成↓30 %、凋亡↓25 %(图2)。  
• 机制:DNA 甲基化(cg19756765)和 ATAC-seq 缺失共同抑制三基因表达;磷酸化组显示其上游受 TP53 磷酸化调控。  
• 独立队列 IHC 证实:HIGD1A 低表达组 5 年 OS 降低 34 %(p=0.003)。  

 

数据验证  
多中心外部队列复现;功能实验在两种 CRC 细胞系(HCT116、SW480)重复一致。

 

局限性  
亚洲人群为主;未纳入单细胞数据;缺乏前瞻性干预试验。

 

5. 讨论与机制阐释  
机制深度  
提出“线粒体基因-核糖体能量轴”假说:  
三基因下调 → 线粒体核糖体装配受损 → OXPHOS 下降 → 能量危机促进肿瘤侵袭。  

 

与既往研究对比  
与 2020 年仅聚焦 SUCLG2 的研究相比,首次将三基因整合为复合标志物并阐明甲基化-染色质开放度协同调控机制。

 

6. 创新点与学术贡献  
  理论创新  
  建立“线粒体基因多组学预后模型”,为非突变型 CRC 高风险分层提供新框架。  

 

  技术贡献  
  五组学整合流程可拓展至其他实体瘤线粒体研究。  

 

  实际价值  
  风险评分已申请专利,预计 2025 年进入 III 期临床试验作为伴随诊断;为线粒体靶向药物(如 OXPHOS 抑制剂)提供人群筛选工具。

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