A risk score prognostic model based on four ubiquitination and immune-related genes in sepsis for outcome prediction and treatment guidance.

Introduction: Ubiquitination and immune regulation play an important role in sepsis. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential value of ubiquitination and immune related genes in sepsis and develop a risk score prognostic model based on sepsis ubiquitination and immune related genes for accurate outcome prediction and better treatment guidance.

Methods: Differential expression and univariate Cox analyses were used to identify ubiquitination and immune-related DEGs related to prognosis, and then a risk model was constructed using LASSO regression analysis. Subsequently, Kaplan-Meier analysis, time-dependent ROC curve analysis, immune cell infiltration analysis, functional enrichment analysis, drug prediction and molecular docking were performed.

Results: A total of 4 ubiquitination and immune-related DEGs related to the prognosis of sepsis were identified. A risk score model was constructed based on these 4 genes. The proportion of death samples in the high risk score group was higher and the OS was worse. The risk score was an independent prognostic factor for sepsis. The time-dependent ROC curve indicated that the risk score model had good predictive ability. The results of ssGSEA and GSEA showed that most immune cell infiltration levels decreased and immune and inflammation related pathways showed inhibitory states in the high risk group. In addition, 7 protein-drug docking results were obtained. The binding energy of LCK and JNJ-26483327 was the lowest.

Conclusion: The 4 ubiquitination and immune-related model genes may play an important role in sepsis by regulating immune cell infiltration and immune and inflammatory related pathways. The model constructed based on these 4 genes has good predictive value, which may help clinical doctors better evaluate the prognosis of sepsis patients and develop personalized treatment plans.