Integrated analysis identifies AQP9 correlates with immune infiltration and acts as a prognosticator in multiple cancers

Xiaohong Liu,Bin Xiong,Qian Xu,Zijing Li

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77657-z

Xiaohong Liu, Bin Xiong + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77657-z

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Abstract

Aquaporin 9 (AQP9), as an aquaglyceroporin, is expressed in many immune cells and plays important role in tumor initiation and progression. However, the relationship between AQP9 and tumor-infiltrating cells, and its prognostic value in cancers still require comprehensive understanding. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the correlations of AQP9 with prognosis and immune infiltration levels in diverse cancers. We detected the expression and survival data of AQP9 through Oncomine, TIMER, Kaplan–Meier Plotter and PrognoScan databases. The correlations between AQP9 and immune infiltrates were analyzed in TIMER database. Our results found that high AQP9 expression was significantly correlated with worse prognosis in breast, colon and lung cancers, while predicted better prognosis in gastric cancer. Moreover, AQP9 had significant association with various immune infiltrating cells including CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), and diverse immune gene markers in BRCA, COAD, LUAD, LUSC and STAD. AQP9 was also significantly correlated with the regulation of tumor associated macrophages (TAM). These results indicate that AQP9 can play as a significant biomarker to determine the prognosis and the immune infiltrating levels in different cancers. It might also contribute to the development of the immunotherapy in breast, colon, lung and gastric cancers.

Highlights

Studies have revealed the involvement of Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) in tumor progression: AQP9 has taken a part in the growth and migration of prostate cancer c ells[14]
We comprehensively performed an in-depth analysis on AQP9 expression and its impact on prognosis in different cancers, and we probed the association of AQP9 expression with tumor immune cell infiltrating levels in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD)
The results demonstrated that the AQP9 expression was up-regulated in breast, colorectal and gastric cancers (Fig. 1a), while decreased in lung cancer compared with their normal tissues

Summary

Introduction

Studies have revealed the involvement of AQP9 in tumor progression: AQP9 has taken a part in the growth and migration of prostate cancer c ells[14]. Only a few studies have been reported to elucidate the correlations between AQP9 and immune function. It is necessary to focus on the correlation and potential mechanism between AQP9 and immune infiltration in different tumors. We comprehensively performed an in-depth analysis on AQP9 expression and its impact on prognosis in different cancers, and we probed the association of AQP9 expression with tumor immune cell infiltrating levels in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). We further explored the potential mechanisms that AQP9 might participate in the regulation of tumor infiltration. Our findings in the study may throw new light on the significant role of AQP9 in breast, colon, lung and gastric cancers, as well as provide a new direction for further study of potential mechanisms between AQP9 and tumor-immune interactions

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