Confirmation of the predictive function of cuproptosis-related gene FDX1 in clear cell renal carcinoma using qRT-PCR and western blotting

Abstract

Background: Cuproptosis is a novel cell death mechanism, and FDX1 is a key gene associated with cuproptosis. However, it is unclear whether FDX1 has prognostic and immunotherapeutic value for clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods: Data on FDX1 expression in ccRCC were extracted from various databases and validated using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Moreover, the survival prognosis, clinical features, methylation, and biological functions of FDX1 were evaluated, and the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score was used to explore the immunotherapy response to FDX1 in ccRCC. Results: The expression of FDX1 in ccRCC tissues was significantly lower than that in normal tissues, as validated by qRT-PCR and western blotting of patient samples ( P < 0.01). Moreover, low FDX1 expression was related to shorter survival time and high immune activation, as indicated by alterations in the tumor mutational burden and tumor microenvironment, stronger immune cell infiltration and immunosuppression point expression, and a higher TIDE score. Conclusions: FDX1 could serve as a novel and accessible biomarker for predicting survival prognosis, tumor immune landscape, and immune responses in ccRCC.

The Molecular Mechanisms of Cuproptosis and Small-Molecule Drug Design in Diabetes Mellitus

“…FDX1 is a protein involved in cuproptosis localized to the mitochondrial membrane [ 50 ]. Recent studies have identified FDX1 as a regulator of protein lipoylation involved in cellular cuproptosis [ 51 , 52 ]. Additionally, studies have identified FDX1 as a direct target of ES which enhances a distinct form of Cu-dependent cell death [ 53 ].…”