The Immunomodulatory Effects of Vitamin D on COVID-19 Induced Glioblastoma Recurrence via the PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Glioma is a highly invasive brain cancer that is difficult to treat due to its complex molecular characteristics and poor prognosis. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced additional clinical challenges for cancer patients, especially those with glioma. This study explored the molecular interactions between glioma and COVID-19 using integrated bioinformatics methods, including enrichment analysis, survival analysis, and molecular docking, focusing on the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the immunomodulatory role of vitamin D. From gene expression data of glioma and COVID-19, 203 common differentially expressed genes were identified, and six prognostic key genes—MYBL2, RBM6, VEPH1, AHNAK2, GNG10, and DUSP14—were further determined. After intersecting with vitamin D targets five prognostic key genes were determined—MYBL2, RBM6, VEPH1, AHNAK2 and GNG10. These genes play significant roles in the PI3K-Akt pathway and potentially interact with vitamin D. Molecular docking and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses suggest that vitamin D may improve the prognosis of glioma patients infected with COVID-19 by regulating these key genes and the PI3K-Akt pathway. The findings reveal molecular links between glioma and COVID-19, thereby providing new insights for developing targeted therapeutic strategies.