BACKGROUND

Emerging oncogenes were reportedly linked to the complicated subtypes and pathogenesis of clinical gliomas. Herein, we first comprehensively explored the potential correlation between growth-arrest-specific two family genes (GAS2, GAS2L1, GAS2L2, GAS2L3) and gliomas by bioinformatics analysis and cellular experiments.

METHODS

Based on the available datasets of TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), CGGA (Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas), and Oncomine databases, we performed a series of analyses, such as gene expression, survival prognosis, DNA methylation, immune infiltration, and partner enrichment. We also utilized two glioma cell lines to conduct the colony formation and wound-healing assay.

RESULTS

GAS2L3 gene was highly expressed in glioma tissues compared to normal brain tissues (p < 0.05). We further observed the relationship between the high expressed GAS2L3 and poor clinical prognosis of brain low-grade glioma (LGG) cases in our Cox proportional hazard model (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.1715, p < 0.001). Moreover, DNA hypomethylation status of GAS2L3 was correlated with the high expression of GAS2L3 in LGG tissues and the poor clinical prognosis of primary glioma cases (p < 0.05). We also found that the high expression of GAS2L3 was associated with the infiltration level of immune cells, especially the T cells (p < 0.0001). Functional enrichment analysis of GAS2L3-correlated genes and interaction partners further indicated that GAS2L3 might take part in the occurrence of glioma by influencing a series of biological behaviors, such as cell division, cytoskeleton binding, and cell adhesion. Additionally, our cellular experiment data suggested that a highly expressed GAS2L3 gene contributes to the enhanced proliferation and migration of glioma cells.

CONCLUSION

This study first analyzed the potential role of GAS2 family genes, especially GAS2L3, in the clinical prognosis and possible functional mechanisms of glioma, which gives a novel insight into the relationship between GAS2L3 and LGG.