Characterization and prognostic of CD8 + TIM3 + CD101 + T cells in glioblastoma multiforme.

Abstract

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a pervasive and aggressive malignant brain tumor. In the tumor immune microenvironment, CD8 + TIM3 + CD101 + T cells (CCT cells) play a pivotal role in tumor progression and immune evasion. This study aimed to characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CCT cells, establish a prognostic model for GBM, and explore clinical implications.

Methods: Analysis of data from TCGA, CGGA, and GEO databases included whole-genome expression profiles, clinical data, single nucleotide mutations, and single-cell RNA sequencing. DEGs were identified, and cell trajectories were constructed using Seurat, Monocle 2, and CellChat packages. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted with clusterProfiler, and a prognostic model was developed. Immune infiltration and drug sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate therapeutic implications.

Results: Eight distinct cell types were distinguished, encompassing T cells, macrophages, neurons, mural cells, endothelial cells, oligodendrocytes, fibroblasts, and B cells. Comparative analysis revealed differences in these cell types between GBM samples with new adjuvant therapy and initial diagnosis controls. Pseudotime analysis indicated CD8 + TIM3 + CD101-T cells as precursors to CCT cells, unveiling unique gene expression patterns during this transition. The prognostic model, incorporating 22 gene features via LASSO regression, demonstrated strong predictive ability through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. Analysis of 28 immune cell types revealed differences between high-risk and low-risk groups, providing insights into GBM's immune evasion mechanisms. Drug sensitivity analysis proposed potential therapeutic strategies for high-risk patients.

Conclusion: This study offers an in-depth understanding of CCT cells in GBM, introducing a novel prognostic model and suggesting promising therapeutic approaches.