CYTL1 induces cell proliferation to modulate gastric cancer progression

Abstract

Background Cytokine-like protein 1 (CYTL1) is ubiquitously expressed in multiple human cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). However, its physiological role in GC is unknown. Herein, we elucidated the importance of CYTL1 in GC and assessed its association with GC progression. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to obtain clinical data for GC patients. Next, we investigated the associations among the CYTL1 expression level, pathological features, and patient prognosis. Finally, we examined the relationships among the CYTL1 level, immune cell invasion (CI), and GC progression. Results The CYTL1 level was elevated in GC tissues compared to surrounding normal tissues. Moreover, enhanced CYTL1 expression in GCs was intricately linked to worse prognosis. Based on univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, the CYTL1 level, along with age, residual tumor status, N stage, and primary therapeutic outcome, was an independent indicator of disease-specific survival (DSS), overall survival (OS), and progression-free interval (PFI) in GC patients. Furthermore, an elevated CYTL1 level was associated with tumor infiltration of pDCs, mast cells, macrophages, DCs, Tem cells, NK cells, Th2 cells, and Th17 cells. Using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), we revealed that an elevated CYTL1 level was intricately linked to cell proliferation (CP) and the glycolytic network. Finally, CYTL1 knockdown in GC cell lines drastically reduced CP, cell migration (CM), and CI in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Conclusion CYTL1 expression correlates with GC progression and glycolysis, indicating that it may be a strong prognostic indicator in GC.