Deciphering the Effects of the PYCR Family on Cell Function, Prognostic Value, Immune Infiltration in ccRCC and Pan-Cancer

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2024-08, Vol.25 (15), p.8096
• Main Authors: Chen, Hongquan, Chen, Qing, Chen, Jinyang, Mao, Yazhen, Duan, Lidi, Ye, Dongjie, Cheng, Wenxiu, Chen, Jiaxi, Gao, Xinrong, Lin, Renxi, Lin, Weibin, Zhang, Mingfang, Qi, Yuanlin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial intelligence; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - pathology; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; delta-1-Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase; Development and progression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes; Humans; Kidney cancer; Kidney Neoplasms - genetics; Kidney Neoplasms - immunology; Kidney Neoplasms - metabolism; Kidney Neoplasms - pathology; kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC); Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating - immunology; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating - metabolism; Medical prognosis; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Mortality; mTOR; pan-cancer analysis; Pathomics; Prognosis; prognostic model; Proline; Pyrroline Carboxylate Reductases - genetics; Pyrroline Carboxylate Reductases - metabolism; pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (PYCR); Regression analysis; Signal Transduction; Tumors
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158096

Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (PYCR) is pivotal in converting pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to proline, the final step in proline synthesis. Three isoforms, PYCR1, PYCR2, and PYCR3, existed and played significant regulatory roles in tumor initiation and progression. In this study, we first assessed the molecular and immune characteristics of PYCRs by a pan-cancer analysis, especially focusing on their prognostic relevance. Then, a kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC)-specific prognostic model was established, incorporating pathomics features to enhance predictive capabilities. The biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of PYCR1 and PYCR2 were investigated by in vitro experiments in renal cancer cells. The PYCRs' expressions were elevated in diverse tumors, correlating with unfavorable clinical outcomes. PYCRs were enriched in cancer signaling pathways, significantly correlating with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). In KIRC, a prognostic model based on PYCR1 and PYCR2 was independently validated statistically. Leveraging features from H&E-stained images, a pathomics feature model reliably predicted patient prognosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that PYCR1 and PYCR2 enhanced the proliferation and migration of renal carcinoma cells by activating the mTOR pathway, at least in part. This study underscores PYCRs' pivotal role in various tumors, positioning them as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, particularly in malignancies like KIRC. The findings emphasize the need for a broader exploration of PYCRs' implications in pan-cancer contexts.