Comprehensive analysis of the prognostic and immunological signature of TNFAIP8 family genes in human glioma

Abstract TNFAIP8 family molecules have been recognized for their involvement in the progression of tumors across a range of cancer types. Emerging experimental data suggests a role for certain TNFAIP8 family molecules in the development of glioma. Nonetheless, the comprehensive understanding of the genomic alterations, prognostic significance, and immunological profiles of TNFAIP8 family molecules in glioma remains incomplete. In the study, using the comprehensive bioinformatics tools, we explored the unique functions of 4 TNFAIP8 members including TNFAIP8, TNFAIP8L1, TNFAIP8L2 and TNFAIP8L3 in glioma. The expressions of TNFAIP8, TNFAIP8L1, TNFAIP8L2, and TNFAIP8L3 were notably upregulated in glioma tissues compared to normal tissues. Furthermore, survival analysis indicated that elevated expression levels of TNFAIP8, TNFAIP8L1 and TNFAIP8L2 were correlated with unfavorable outcomes in terms of overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free interval (PFI) among glioma patients. Genetic modifications, such as mutations and copy number alterations, within the TNFAIP8 family exhibited a significant association with extended OS, DSS and PFS in individuals diagnosed with glioma. The findings suggest a noteworthy correlation between TNFAIP8 family members and the age and 1p/19q codeletion status of glioma patients. We also found that there were significant relationships between TNFAIP8 family expression and tumor immunity in glioma. Furthermore, functional annotation of TNFAIP8 family members and their co-expressed genes in gliomas was carried out using GO and KEGG pathway analysis. The GO analysis revealed that the primary biological processes influenced by the TNFAIP8 family co-expressed genes included cell chemotaxis, temperature homeostasis, and endocytic vesicle formation. Additionally, the KEGG analysis demonstrated that TNFAIP8 family co-expressed genes are involved in regulating various pathways such as inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, pathways in cancer, prolactin signaling pathway, and Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis. Overall, the findings suggest that TNFAIP8 family members may play a significant role in the development of glioma and have the potential to serve as prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets for individuals with glioma.