Aberrant RBMX expression is relevant for cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response

Aging (Albany NY). 2024 Jan 11;16(1):226-245. doi: 10.18632/aging.205363. Epub 2024 Jan 11.

Abstract

Cancer accounts for the highest rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. RNA binding motif protein X-linked (RBMX) is a nuclear RNA-binding protein, associated with certain types of cancer by participating in the integration of sister chromatids and a combination of ribonucleoprotein complexes. However, the specific role of RBMX in cancer immunity remains unknown. This study presents the aberrant expression levels, single-cell distributions, effective prognostic roles, immune cell infiltration associations, and immunotherapy responses of RBMX as a biomarker in various types of cancer. Moreover, it validates the aberrant expression of RBMX in clinical cancer samples. Furthermore, we also evaluated the relationships between RBMX expression and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in clinical samples by immunofluorescent staining. The results showed that knockdown of RBMX can impair the proliferation, migration, and invasion of liver cancer cells. Finally, we indicated that RBMX may play an immunoregulatory role in cancer progression, affecting the therapeutic effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer.

Keywords: RBMX; cancer prognosis; immunotherapy response; invasion; proliferation.

MeSH terms

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • RBMX protein, human