Abstract
Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of glioma, and the most aggressive brain malignancy in adults. This study sought to identify novel survival-status related markers, and examine their function in glioma. Methods: The gene expression, survival heatmaps, and Kaplan-Meier survival plots of the genes were analyzed by using gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) dataset, Linked Omics. The single cell data analysis and tumor immune infiltration analysis was conducted by Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) dataset. DBTRG and U251 cells with silenced Deltex E3 ubiquitin ligase 2 (DTX2) expression were constructed and used for Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8), and wound healing assay in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis was used to explore the histone activation marks and transcription factors DTX2 promoter. Dual-luciferase assays were carried out to detect the luciferase activities of bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4) binding to DTX2. Results: We first conducted a survival-status analysis to identify survival status-related genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas GBM and low-grade glioma data sets. A subsequent analysis identified 3 novel prognostic biomarkers; that is, DTX2, cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, and Williams-Beuren syndrome chromosomal region 16 protein. In the validation Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas data sets, DTX2 showed the best performance, and was examined in a further analysis. Next, 3 short-hairpin ribonucleic acids were designed to silence DTX2 expression, and CCK-8 and wound-healing assays were applied to study the function of DTX2. We found that DTX2-silenced glioma cells exhibited a significant decrease in their growth and migration capabilities. Finally, the molecular basis for increased DTX2 in glioma was investigated via ChIPSeq analysis and luciferase assays. The analysis revealed that DTX2 was transcriptionally activated by BRD4. Conclusions: In conclusion, BRD4 transcriptionally activates DTX2, contributes to glioma progression, predicts an unfavorable prognosis, and could provide new options for glioma prognosis prediction and treatment.