Molecular insights into glioblastoma progression: role of CHCHD2P9 in tumor heterogeneity and prognosis

BackgroundGliomas are highly aggressive, life-threatening tumors with poor prognosis, and remain a leading cause of mortality among brain cancers. Although the role of mitochondrial proteins in cancer has garnered increasing attention, their specific functions in the nervous system, particularly in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yanyu Ding, Lizhi Xiao, Xiaoling Zhou, Jiaxin Zhao, Jianli Ke, Huabao Cai, Mengyu Zhao, Cunzhi Wang, Tianhang Yu, Zhijie Zhao, Yucai Wang, Jiyuan Ke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1581850/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:BackgroundGliomas are highly aggressive, life-threatening tumors with poor prognosis, and remain a leading cause of mortality among brain cancers. Although the role of mitochondrial proteins in cancer has garnered increasing attention, their specific functions in the nervous system, particularly in gliomas, remain poorly understood.MethodsWe integrated single-cell RNA sequencing with cellular assays and flow cytometry to investigate the molecular characteristics and cellular interactions within glioblastoma subpopulations during tumor progression.ResultsSingle-cell RNA sequencing revealed several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within glioblastoma subpopulations. Trajectory analysis identified CHCHD2P9 as a pivotal marker for the terminal subpopulation. Moreover, elevated expression of CHCHD2P9 was found to correlate with poorer clinical outcomes. Subsequent cellular experiments further explored the underlying mechanisms driving these observations.ConclusionsCHCHD2P9 is significantly overexpressed in glioma patients, and its differential expression plays a crucial role in regulating glioma cell proliferation and migration. A CHCHD2P9-based risk model holds promise as both a prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of gliomas and opening avenues for personalized treatment strategies.
ISSN:1664-3224