The immunomodulatory role of the MAFB gene in hepatocellular carcinoma and its impact on biological activities

• Published in: Gene Vol. 934; p. 149030
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yang-Liu, Meng, Tao, Zhang, Li, Xu, Na, Yang, Mingya, Zhang, Yan, Wang, Zhenzhen, Liu, Yu, Han, Anqi, Zuo, Jiawei, Sun, Haiyi, Zhang, Chao, Zhu, Li-Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 22.10.2024
• Subjects: HCC; Immune; MAFB; Nomogram; Prognosis; Prognosis; CCLE; ICIs; WB; TISIDB; DMEM; IC50; KD; KEGG; LIHC; PBS; AML; Immune; Nomogram; H&E; TIMER; ROC; GO; HCC; GSEA; siRNA; CGP; Cox; PVDF; TCGA; SDS-PAGE; CCK8; MAFB; NC; TILs
• ISSN: 0378-1119; 1879-0038; 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.149030

•MAFB is a potential prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma.•MAFB affects the biological function of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.•MAFB is associated with immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma.•The model constructed based on MAFB-related immune genes provides a reference for the evaluation of immunotherapy. The transcription factor MAFB is part of the MAF family and is known to promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by upregulating cyclin D1. However, its role in HCC immunity and prognosis remains unclear. This study explores the biological function, prognostic significance, and immune impact of MAFB in HCC. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze MAFB expression in HCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues. RT-qPCR and Western blotting measured MAFB levels in HCC cell lines. Specific siRNA was used to knockdown MAFB in HCCLM3 and MHCC97H cells, followed by assays to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation. Data from the TCGA database and online tools TIMER and TISDB were used to assess the relationship between MAFB and immune responses. A prognostic model based on MAFB-related immune genes was established, and drug sensitivity analysis was performed. MAFB was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues. Knockdown of MAFB in HCC cell lines reduced their proliferation and migration abilities. The risk model based on MAFB-related immune genes effectively predicted patient prognosis, supported by ROC curves. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that MAFB is involved in immune-related pathways. Several drugs were identified as potentially sensitive to MAFB expression levels. MAFB plays a significant role in HCC development and immune regulation. The prognostic model combining MAFB-related immune genes provides valuable insights for predicting patient outcomes and identifying potential therapeutic targets.