Dynamic Expression of Palmitoylation Regulators across Human Organ Development and Cancers Based on Bioinformatics

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Oncology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Protein palmitoylation, a reversible lipid modification, is crucial for cellular processes, including organ development and cancer progression.
• The dynamic expression patterns of palmitoylation regulators during human organ development and their specific roles in various cancers are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively analyze the dynamic expression of palmitoylation regulators during human organ development and in multiple cancer types using bioinformatics.
• To investigate the prognostic value and potential roles of specific palmitoylation regulators, such as ZDHHC7/20/21, in cancer development and the tumor microenvironment.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatic analysis of gene expression data from seven organ development datasets and eight cancer types.
• Survival analysis to correlate regulator expression with patient prognosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) and liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC).
• Exploration of the relationship between ZDHHC7 expression, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoint genes across 33 cancer types.
• Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to elucidate pathway involvement.

Main Results:

• Most palmitoylation regulators exhibited altered expression post-birth, indicating dynamic regulation during development.
• ZDHHC7/20/21 showed converse expression patterns across multiple cancer types, with significant associations with prognosis in KIRC and LIHC.
• ZDHHC7 expression correlated with immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment and showed relationships with immune checkpoint genes.
• GSEA suggested ZDHHC7's potential to regulate different genes mediating similar pathways across various organs.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a comprehensive landscape of palmitoylation regulator expression in human organ development and cancer.
• Specific regulators like ZDHHC7/20/21 have significant roles in cancer progression and patient outcomes, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets or biomarkers.
• The findings highlight the intricate involvement of protein palmitoylation in both normal development and tumorigenesis, offering new avenues for cancer research.