High LRRC1 expression indicates poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of the leucine rich repeat containing 1 (LRRC1) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to determine the effects of high and low LRRC1 expression on mutation and immune cell infiltration. Methods: We downloaded HCC mRNA-seq expression and clinical data from UCSC Xena. The expression of LRRC1 was compared between HCC tumor and normal samples. Tumor samples were divided according to high and low LRRC1 expression. Differentially expressed genes between the two groups were identified, and function, mutation, and immune cell infiltration were analyzed. Genes associated with immune cells were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and transcription factors (TFs) of these genes were predicted. Results: The expression of LRRC1was upregulated in HCC tissues, and this indicated a poor prognosis for patients with HCC. Differentially expressed genes between tumors with high and low LRRC1 expression were significantly enriched in pathways associated with cancer, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and the immune system. We identified 15 differentially infiltrated immune cells between tumors with high and low LRRC1 expression and 14 of them correlated with LRRC1gene expression. We also identified 83 genes that were associated with immune cells. Cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB1) regulated ANXA5, MMP9, and LRRC1in the TF regulatory network. Conclusion: The LRRC1 gene might serve as a potential immune-associated prognostic biomarker for HCC.