METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-omics approach for prognostic biomarker discovery
BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, partly due to an incomplete understanding of the metabolic and immune dysregulation driving its progression. Here, we uncover a novel role of METTL1 in driving nucleotide metabolism repr...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1582203/full |
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| author | Xie Weng Yangyue Huang Zhuoya Fu Xingli Liu Fuli Xie Jiale Wang Qiaohua Zhu Dayong Zheng Dayong Zheng |
| author_facet | Xie Weng Yangyue Huang Zhuoya Fu Xingli Liu Fuli Xie Jiale Wang Qiaohua Zhu Dayong Zheng Dayong Zheng |
| author_sort | Xie Weng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, partly due to an incomplete understanding of the metabolic and immune dysregulation driving its progression. Here, we uncover a novel role of METTL1 in driving nucleotide metabolism reprogramming, which significantly modulates the tumor immune microenvironment.MethodsUtilizing an integrated multi-omics approach, we analyzed nucleotide metabolism-related genes derived from TCGA, GEO, and ICGC datasets. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering stratified HCC patients into distinct subgroups with varied clinical features. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified hub genes that were subsequently used to construct robust prognostic models via multiple machine learning algorithms. These computational findings were validated through in vitro experiments, immune infiltration assessments, and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis.ResultsOur analyses demonstrate that METTL1 is markedly upregulated in HCC, driving a reprogramming of nucleotide metabolism that modulates the expression of key immune checkpoints, including PD-L1 and CTLA-4. This regulation is associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, reduced infiltration of activated T cells, and poorer clinical outcomes. Moreover, the prognostic model integrating METTL1 expression and immune checkpoint profiles shows strong predictive performance across independent cohorts, highlighting its potential clinical utility.ConclusionThis study highlights the innovative role of METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprogramming in reshaping the immune microenvironment of HCC. The findings provide novel insights into HCC pathogenesis and pave the way for developing personalized therapeutic strategies based on targeting METTL1 and its associated metabolic pathways. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1b3e28112fe42e49eca59bc60d2259a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1b3e28112fe42e49eca59bc60d2259a2025-08-20T02:24:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-04-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15822031582203METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-omics approach for prognostic biomarker discoveryXie Weng0Yangyue Huang1Zhuoya Fu2Xingli Liu3Fuli Xie4Jiale Wang5Qiaohua Zhu6Dayong Zheng7Dayong Zheng8Department of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, ChinaHepatic Department, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaHepatic Department, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, ChinaHepatic Department, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaBackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, partly due to an incomplete understanding of the metabolic and immune dysregulation driving its progression. Here, we uncover a novel role of METTL1 in driving nucleotide metabolism reprogramming, which significantly modulates the tumor immune microenvironment.MethodsUtilizing an integrated multi-omics approach, we analyzed nucleotide metabolism-related genes derived from TCGA, GEO, and ICGC datasets. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering stratified HCC patients into distinct subgroups with varied clinical features. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified hub genes that were subsequently used to construct robust prognostic models via multiple machine learning algorithms. These computational findings were validated through in vitro experiments, immune infiltration assessments, and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis.ResultsOur analyses demonstrate that METTL1 is markedly upregulated in HCC, driving a reprogramming of nucleotide metabolism that modulates the expression of key immune checkpoints, including PD-L1 and CTLA-4. This regulation is associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, reduced infiltration of activated T cells, and poorer clinical outcomes. Moreover, the prognostic model integrating METTL1 expression and immune checkpoint profiles shows strong predictive performance across independent cohorts, highlighting its potential clinical utility.ConclusionThis study highlights the innovative role of METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprogramming in reshaping the immune microenvironment of HCC. The findings provide novel insights into HCC pathogenesis and pave the way for developing personalized therapeutic strategies based on targeting METTL1 and its associated metabolic pathways.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1582203/fullpancreatic hepatocellular carcinomanucleotide metabolismnon-negative matrix factorization clusteringimmune cell correlationMETTL1 |
| spellingShingle | Xie Weng Yangyue Huang Zhuoya Fu Xingli Liu Fuli Xie Jiale Wang Qiaohua Zhu Dayong Zheng Dayong Zheng METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-omics approach for prognostic biomarker discovery Frontiers in Immunology pancreatic hepatocellular carcinoma nucleotide metabolism non-negative matrix factorization clustering immune cell correlation METTL1 |
| title | METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-omics approach for prognostic biomarker discovery |
| title_full | METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-omics approach for prognostic biomarker discovery |
| title_fullStr | METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-omics approach for prognostic biomarker discovery |
| title_full_unstemmed | METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-omics approach for prognostic biomarker discovery |
| title_short | METTL1-driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-omics approach for prognostic biomarker discovery |
| title_sort | mettl1 driven nucleotide metabolism reprograms the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma a multi omics approach for prognostic biomarker discovery |
| topic | pancreatic hepatocellular carcinoma nucleotide metabolism non-negative matrix factorization clustering immune cell correlation METTL1 |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1582203/full |
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