A comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell RNA sequencing data
Abstract Background Thyroid carcinoma (THCA) is the most common cancer of the endocrine system. Natural killer (NK) cell play an important role in tumor immune surveillance. The aim of this study was to explore the possible molecular mechanisms involved in NK cell in THCA to help the management and...
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Springer
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Discover Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01779-x |
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| author | Xiaoqiong Li Kejiang Wang Jiaxin Liu Yan Li |
| author_facet | Xiaoqiong Li Kejiang Wang Jiaxin Liu Yan Li |
| author_sort | Xiaoqiong Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Thyroid carcinoma (THCA) is the most common cancer of the endocrine system. Natural killer (NK) cell play an important role in tumor immune surveillance. The aim of this study was to explore the possible molecular mechanisms involved in NK cell in THCA to help the management and treatment of the disease. Methods All data were downloaded from public databases. Candidate hub genes associated with NK cell in THCA were identified by limma, WGCNA and singleR packages. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on the candidate hub genes. Hub genes associated with NK cell were identified by Pearson correlation analysis. The mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA and transcription factors (TF) networks were constructed and the drug was predicted. Results The infiltration level of NK cell in THCA tissues was higher than that in paracancerous tissues. KEGG functional enrichment analysis only obtained two signaling pathways, thyroid hormone synthesis and mineral absorption. CTSC, FN1, SLC34A2 and TMSB4X identified by Pearson correlation analysis were considered as the hub genes. Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that hub genes may be potential diagnostic biomarkers. In mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA network, FN1 had the highest correlation with IQCH-AS1, and IQCH-AS1 was also correlated with hsa-miR-543. In addition, FN1 and RUNX1 were also found to have the highest correlation in TF network. Finally, NK cell-related drugs belinostat and vorinostat were identified based on ASGARD. Conclusion The identification of important signaling pathways, molecules and drugs provides potential research directions for further research in THCA and contributes to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for this disease. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c799fa6e00c54542a1a9081d276c754b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2730-6011 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c799fa6e00c54542a1a9081d276c754b2025-01-19T12:29:12ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-01-0116111510.1007/s12672-025-01779-xA comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell RNA sequencing dataXiaoqiong Li0Kejiang Wang1Jiaxin Liu2Yan Li3The Department of Experimental Medicine, Meishan City People’s HospitalThe Department of Experimental Medicine, Meishan City People’s HospitalThe Department of Experimental Medicine, Meishan City People’s HospitalThe Department of Experimental Medicine, Meishan City People’s HospitalAbstract Background Thyroid carcinoma (THCA) is the most common cancer of the endocrine system. Natural killer (NK) cell play an important role in tumor immune surveillance. The aim of this study was to explore the possible molecular mechanisms involved in NK cell in THCA to help the management and treatment of the disease. Methods All data were downloaded from public databases. Candidate hub genes associated with NK cell in THCA were identified by limma, WGCNA and singleR packages. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on the candidate hub genes. Hub genes associated with NK cell were identified by Pearson correlation analysis. The mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA and transcription factors (TF) networks were constructed and the drug was predicted. Results The infiltration level of NK cell in THCA tissues was higher than that in paracancerous tissues. KEGG functional enrichment analysis only obtained two signaling pathways, thyroid hormone synthesis and mineral absorption. CTSC, FN1, SLC34A2 and TMSB4X identified by Pearson correlation analysis were considered as the hub genes. Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that hub genes may be potential diagnostic biomarkers. In mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA network, FN1 had the highest correlation with IQCH-AS1, and IQCH-AS1 was also correlated with hsa-miR-543. In addition, FN1 and RUNX1 were also found to have the highest correlation in TF network. Finally, NK cell-related drugs belinostat and vorinostat were identified based on ASGARD. Conclusion The identification of important signaling pathways, molecules and drugs provides potential research directions for further research in THCA and contributes to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for this disease.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01779-xThyroid carcinomaNatural killer cellSingle-cell RNA sequencing dataWeighted gene co-expression network analysisHub genesDrug repurposing |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoqiong Li Kejiang Wang Jiaxin Liu Yan Li A comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell RNA sequencing data Discover Oncology Thyroid carcinoma Natural killer cell Single-cell RNA sequencing data Weighted gene co-expression network analysis Hub genes Drug repurposing |
| title | A comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell RNA sequencing data |
| title_full | A comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell RNA sequencing data |
| title_fullStr | A comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell RNA sequencing data |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell RNA sequencing data |
| title_short | A comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell RNA sequencing data |
| title_sort | comprehensive analysis to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of natural killer cell in thyroid carcinoma based on single cell rna sequencing data |
| topic | Thyroid carcinoma Natural killer cell Single-cell RNA sequencing data Weighted gene co-expression network analysis Hub genes Drug repurposing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01779-x |
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