Comprehensive analysis of N6-methyladenosine -related long non-coding RNAs and immune cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

ABSTRACT We aimed to illustrate the influence of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and immune cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The relationship of lncRNAs and m6A was identified through gene expression analysis using PERL and R packages. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes gene expression enrichment analysis was performed via gene set enrichment analysis. Lasso regression was utilized to construct prognostic model. Differences in the tumor microenvironment and the immune correlation were analyzed to clarify immune cell infiltration in different clusters and their correlation with the clinical prognosis. Co-expression analysis showed that lncRNA expression was associated closely with m6A. Many lncRNAs were predictive risk factors of prognosis in HCC. m6A-lncRNAs were partially highly expressed in tumor tissue and could be used in a prognostic model to predict HCC prognosis, independent of other clinical characteristics. ‘NOTCH SIGNALING PATHWAY’ was most significantly enriched according to GSEA. CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing member 3 (CMTM3) was overexpressed in tumor tissue. Immune cells, such as activated CD4 memory T cells, CD8 T cells, and follicular helper T cells, highly infiltrated tissues in cluster 2. All related scores were higher in cluster 2, indicating a lower purity of tumor cells and higher density of immune-related cells in the tumor microenvironment. m6A-lncRNAs are closely related to HCC occurrence and progression. Corresponding prognostic models can help predict HCC prognosis. m6A-lncRNAs and the related immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment can provide novel therapeutic targets in HCC that need to be further studied.