CCDC167 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and is associated with the immune microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Coiled-coil domain-containing (CCDC)family proteins play an important role in tumour progression, however, the role of CCDC167 in hepatocellular carcinoma remains unclear. To investigate the role of coiled-coil structural domain 167 (CCDC167) in hepatocellular carcinoma progression, we downloaded three hepatocellular carcinoma datasets (TCGA-LIHC, ICGC-LIRI and GSE76427) and analysed the mechanisms by which CCDC167 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma progression using MetaScape, CPTAC, HPA, TISCH and TISIDB.“ pRRophetic” package predicted the chemotherapeutic agents associated with CCDC167. The results showed that CCDC167 was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Knockdown of CCDC167 inhibits the proliferative capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. CCDC167 was involved in the regulation of cell cycle, DNA replication and oxidative phosphorylation. Hepatocellular carcinoma samples with high expression of CCDC167 showed higher immune scores and C4 (lymphocyte depleted) subtypes. CCDC167 was associated with a variety of immune molecules (CD274, IL6R, and KDR), not only that, but CCDC167 was positively correlated with Treg infiltration and negatively correlated with T cells CD4 memory resting. High expression of CCDC167 increased immune escape in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. CCDC167 was associated with sensitivity to cisplatin in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. CCDC167 promoted the proliferative capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Our study suggests that CCDC167 is a novel and potentially valuable prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma, and that CCDC167 iCCDC167 not only promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation but is also associated with immune function in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.