HSPA4 Expression is Correlated with Melanoma Cell Proliferation, Prognosis, and Immune Regulation.

PURPOSE

Heat shock protein A4 () is associated with a variety of human diseases. However, its function in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) remains uncertain.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The gene and protein expression level of in CMM was investigated with public databases. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay was performed to assess the effect of on the proliferation of melanoma cells. Then, the diagnostic and prognostic value of in CMM were analyzed. Gene variations and methylation levels, and the correlation between expression and immune cell infiltration were evaluated, followed by the construction of related protein-protein interaction networks and functional enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein expression level of was significantly higher in CMM. Knocking down in A-375 cell line could inhibit tumor cell growth. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed the diagnostic value of . Survival analysis showed that high expression of was associated with poor prognosis. gene alterations were observed in 3% of CMM patients. Five CpG sites are associated with the prognosis of CMM. is negatively correlated with most immune cells in CMM. The protein interaction network shows that is closely related to proteins such as DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member B1 () and DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member B6 (), and the expression of is positively correlated with . Functional enrichment analysis indicated that may be associated with immune suppression and immune escape within the tumor microenvironment of CMM.

CONCLUSION

may participate in the regulation of tumor development and microenvironment, which may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker of CMM.