Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2025

Isolating Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and CD4+ T cells from Sézary Syndrome Patients for Transcriptomic Profiling
09:08

Isolating Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and CD4+ T cells from Sézary Syndrome Patients for Transcriptomic Profiling

Published on: October 14, 2021

5.4K

Analysis of the Potential Link Between Dermatomyositis and Cancer

Jianwei Guo1,2, Tianyi Lei1,3, Xiang Yu1,3

  • 1Research Center of Hyperuricemia and Gout, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.

Journal of Inflammation Research
|December 9, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study identifies macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as a key link between dermatomyositis (DM) and cancer. Elevated MIF levels in DM patients with cancer suggest it as a potential therapeutic target for improving cancer prognosis and immunotherapy outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory myopathy associated with an increased risk of cancer.
  • The precise biological mechanisms connecting DM to cancer remain incompletely understood.
  • Identifying these links is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms linking DM to cancer.
  • To identify key genes and pathways involved in this association.
  • To explore potential therapeutic targets for DM-associated cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Differential gene expression analysis and Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) were performed on patient datasets (GSE128470, GSE1551).
  • Key genes were identified using LASSO and SVM-RFE methods.
  • Immune cell infiltration analysis and RT-qPCR were used to validate findings and assess gene expression in various cancers.

Main Results:

  • Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to innate immunity and autoimmune responses were identified.
  • WGCNA highlighted MIF, C1QA, and CDKN1A as central genes in DM.
  • Elevated MIF expression in DM patients correlated with cancer presence, prognosis, and modulated specific immune cell populations (CD4+ Th1, NKT, MDSCs), impacting immunotherapy potential.

Conclusions:

  • MIF, C1QA, and CDKN1A are differentially expressed in DM, with MIF significantly altered in DM patients with cancer.
  • MIF emerges as a critical prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for various cancers.
  • MIF plays a key role in linking DM to cancer by modulating immune cells, potentially influencing immunotherapy outcomes.
Keywords:
MIFWGCNAdermatomyositisimmune infiltrationmachine learningpan-cancer

More Related Videos

Chemical-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis Model Using Dimethylbenz[a]Anthracene and 12-O-Tetradecanoyl Phorbol-13-Acetate DMBA-TPA04:12

Chemical-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis Model Using Dimethylbenz[a]Anthracene and 12-O-Tetradecanoyl Phorbol-13-Acetate DMBA-TPA

Published on: December 19, 2019

14.2K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies07:47

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies

Published on: September 15, 2023

1.4K

Related Concept Videos

Skin Cancer01:30

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
3.4K
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
8.7K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.4K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.7K
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer01:19

Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer

Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
24
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
3.9K