Multi-functional gene ZNF281 identified as a molecular biomarker in soft tissue regeneration and pan-cancer progression

Abstract

Regeneration and tumorigenesis are indicated as related processes, while regeneration leads to life and the outcome of tumorigenesis is death. Here, we show the upregulation of zfp281 (zinc finger 281) in our adipose de novo regeneration model through RNA-seq analysis. Then, we validated the upregulation of zfp281 in adipose regeneration via immunofluorescence. Following that, we found that ZNF281 (the human homolog of Zfp281) was upregulated in most types of cancer and related to worse prognosis in 10 tumors. We further investigated the role of ZNF281 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and confirmed the high accuracy in the clinical diagnostic feature. Beyond that, based on these three types of cancers, we analyzed the ZNF281-related tumor immune infiltration and DNA methylation sites and finally built risk prediction models for future disease diagnosis. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the dual role of ZNF281, and we found that it was a potential biomarker for regeneration and tumor prognosis.

Identification and validation of the role of ZNF281 in 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy of gastric cancer

“…However, researchers have not explored its role in GC. Abnormal ZNF281 expression regulates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway affecting tumorigenesis and progression (Qian et al 2017 ; Zeng, Hou et al 2022 ; Deng, Peng et al 2023 ). 5-FU mediates DNA damage and inhibits DNA damage repair in GC cells through the Wnt pathway, thereby promoting apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, invasion, and migration (Meng et al 2023 ).…”

“…In hepatocellular liver cancer, ZNF281 affects mitochondrial biogenesis through the nuclear respiratory factor 1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-transcription factor A, mitochondrial axis, triggering cancer progression (Zhao, Zhang et al 2023 ). It has been revealed that ZNF281 involved in regulating immune infiltration in cervical and pancreatic cancers(Hou et al 2022 ). Additionally, low expression of ZNF281 inhibits tumor progression in oral, breast, and cervical cancers (Ji et al 2020 ; Hou et al 2021 ; Starzynska et al 2021 ; Zeng, Hou et al 2022 ).…”

“…It has been revealed that ZNF281 involved in regulating immune infiltration in cervical and pancreatic cancers(Hou et al 2022 ). Additionally, low expression of ZNF281 inhibits tumor progression in oral, breast, and cervical cancers (Ji et al 2020 ; Hou et al 2021 ; Starzynska et al 2021 ; Zeng, Hou et al 2022 ). However, the role of ZNF281 in GC chemotherapy and its underlying mechanism have not been explored.…”