Abstract
Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a driver of glioma progression, with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) playing a central role in modulating the tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to investigate the expression profiles and regulatory mechanisms of TNF-α and its downstream mediators-including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 8 (MAP3K8), and Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MAP2K7)-in astrocytic tumors of varying malignancy. We conducted an integrative molecular analysis of 60 human astrocytic tumor samples (20 G2, 12 G3, 28 G4) using transcriptomic microarrays, Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, methylation-specific PCR, and miRNA profiling. Prognostic associations were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses. TNF-α, IL-1β, and MAP3K8 were significantly upregulated in high-grade tumors, with log(2) fold changes ranging from 5.56 to 8.76 (p < 0.001). High expression of TNF-α (HR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.27-3.46, p = 0.004), IL-1β (HR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.45-3.82, p = 0.001), and MAP3K8 (Hazard Ratio; HR = 1.88, 95% confidence interval; 95% CI: 1.12-3.16, p = 0.015) was associated with poorer overall survival. miR-34a-3p and miR-30 family members, predicted to target TNF-α and IL-1β, were markedly downregulated in G3/G4 tumors (e.g., miR-30e-3p fold change: -3.78, p < 0.01). Promoter hypomethylation was observed in G3/G4 tumors, supporting epigenetic activation. Our findings establish a multi-layered regulatory mechanism of TNF-α signaling in astrocytic tumors. These data highlight the TNF-α/IL-1β/MAP3K8 axis as a critical driver of glioma aggressiveness and a potential therapeutic target.