m6A regulator-based molecular classification and hub genes associated with immune infiltration characteristics and clinical outcomes in diffuse gliomas

Bibliographic Details
Title: m6A regulator-based molecular classification and hub genes associated with immune infiltration characteristics and clinical outcomes in diffuse gliomas
Authors: Jie Lu, Siyu Chen, Wanming Hu, Ke Sai, Depei Li, Pingping Jiang
Source: BMC Medical Genomics, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-17 (2025)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Internal medicine
LCC:Genetics
Subject Terms: Gliomas, m6A, Tumor immune microenvironment, Immunotherapy, FTO, Internal medicine, RC31-1245, Genetics, QH426-470
More Details: Abstract Background m6A methylation modification is a new regulatory mechanism involved in tumorigenesis and tumor-immunity interaction. However, its impact on glioma immune microenvironment and clinical outcomes remains unclear. Methods Comprehensive expression profiles of 18 m6A regulators were used to identify molecular subtypes exhibiting distinct m6A modification patterns in 1673 glioma samples sourced from public datasets. A multi-genes signature was constructed for predicting clinical outcomes and response to immunotherapy in glioma patients. Immunohistochemistry and cellular experiments were performed for validation. Results Two m6A subtypes of gliomas were identified. The m6A-low-risk subtype was characterized by paucity of immune infiltrates; While the m6A-high-risk subtype had higher abundances of multiple immune cells including lymphocyte and macrophage as well as increased expression of PD-L1, corresponding to an immunosuppressive phenotype. The m6A-high-risk subtype had poorer survival than the m6A-low-risk subtype in both the glioblastoma and lower grade gliomas cohorts. Eight m6A-related hub genes of high prognostic significances were identified and selected for developing a scoring signature termed as m6Ascore. Elevated m6Ascore indicated worse survival for glioma patients under standard care, but showed enhanced response to immunotherapy. Moreover, we demonstrated that overexpression of FTO, a m6A demethylase, inhibited the expressions of m6A-related hub genes (PTX3, SPAG4), impaired glioma cell viability and reduced macrophage chemotaxis. Conclusion This work develops an immune- and clinical-relevant m6A subtyping and a scoring model, which enhances our understanding of the role of m6A modification in regulating immune infiltration microenvironment in gliomas and helps to identify patients who are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1755-8794
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1755-8794
DOI: 10.1186/s12920-025-02104-9
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/8b421b42a25844cfb6de6494f24b061a
Accession Number: edsdoj.8b421b42a25844cfb6de6494f24b061a
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:17558794
DOI:10.1186/s12920-025-02104-9
Published in:BMC Medical Genomics
Language:English