Single-cell and Mendelian analyses reveal shared mechanisms between head and neck neoplasms and aging

This study aims to explore shared key genes between head and neck neoplasm (HNN) and aging.

Using single-cell RNA sequencing data of peripheral blood from HNSCC patients, aging individuals, and healthy controls, we identified cross-group co-expressed, downregulated cell subpopulations as core targets. Integrated pseudotime trajectory analysis and intercellular communication modeling were employed to investigate the dynamic evolution and functional interaction patterns of these subpopulations. Differentially expressed genes were identified, followed by Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess their causal associations with HNN. Co-localization analysis was performed using GWAS data for HNN and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) datasets. Key genes were further subjected to metabolic pathway enrichment analysis.

T cell subsets were found to be represented in both HNN and aging. Among them, CD4_naive T cells were down-regulated in both groups, leading to the identification of 24 differentially expressed genes. MR studies have shown that CCR, LEF1, NOSIP and FHIT have causal relationships with HNN. In the validation phase, however, only FHIT was retained, for which co-localization analysis revealed limited evidence of a shared causal variant between the GWAS and eQTL signals (H4 = 0.01). The metabolic enrichment highlighted metabolic pathways associated with these genes.

This study identified CD4_naive T cells down-regulation as a shared feature of HNN and aging and highlighted FHIT as potential molecular links. These findings may provide novel insights into the intersection of aging and tumorigenesis based on MR and single-cell analysis, offering potential targets for combined therapeutic strategies.