Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38915066›Full record

ArticleHuman genomics2024

Elucidating the role of liver enzymes as markers and regulators in ovarian cancer: a synergistic approach using Mendelian randomization, single-cell analysis, and clinical evidence.

Yinxing Zhu, Min Jiang, Zihan Gu, Hongyu Shang, Caiyin Tang, Ting Guo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Human genomics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yinxing Zhu *Taizhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Taizhou, 225300, China.
Min Jiang *Department of Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou, 225300, China.
Zihan GuNanjing University of Finance & Economics, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Hongyu ShangTaizhou Polytechnic College, Taizhou, 225300, China.
Caiyin TangDepartment of Imaging, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou, 225300, China. tangcaiyin@126.com.
Ting GuoTaizhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Taizhou, 225300, China. guoting20230419@njmu.edu.cn.

Funding

the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2023M741796the Postdoctoral research program of Taizhou Clinical Medicine School of Nanjing Medical University TZBSHKY202204the Social Development Plan of Taizhou, China TN202108
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the association between liver enzymes and ovarian cancer (OC), and to validate their potential as biomarkers and their mechanisms in OC. Methods Genome-wide association studies for OC and levels of enzymes such as Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MR), complemented by the Steiger test, identified enzymes with a potential causal relationship to OC. Single-cell transcriptomics from the GSE130000 dataset pinpointed pivotal cellular clusters, enabling further examination of enzyme-encoding gene expression. Transcription factors (TFs) governing these genes were predicted to construct TF-mRNA networks. Additionally, liver enzyme levels were retrospectively analyzed in healthy individuals and OC patients, alongside the evaluation of correlations with cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4).

resultsA total of 283 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 209 SNPs related to ALP and AST, respectively. Using the inverse-variance weighted method, univariate MR (UVMR) analysis revealed that ALP (P = 0.050, OR = 0.938) and AST (P = 0.017, OR = 0.906) were inversely associated with OC risk, suggesting their roles as protective factors. Multivariate MR (MVMR) confirmed the causal effect of ALP (P = 0.005, OR = 0.938) on OC without reverse causality. Key cellular clusters including T cells, ovarian cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and epithelial cells were identified, with epithelial cells showing high expression of genes encoding AST and ALP. Notably, TFs such as TCE4 were implicated in the regulation of GOT2 and ALPL genes. OC patient samples exhibited decreased ALP levels in both blood and tumor tissues, with a negative correlation between ALP and CA125 levels observed.

conclusionThis study has established a causal link between AST and ALP with OC, identifying them as protective factors. The increased expression of the genes encoding these enzymes in epithelial cells provides a theoretical basis for developing novel disease markers and targeted therapies for OC.

Indexed as

Alkaline PhosphataseBiomarkers, TumorGenome-Wide Association StudyMendelian Randomization AnalysisOvarian NeoplasmsPolymorphism, Single NucleotideSingle-Cell AnalysisAlanine TransaminaseAspartate AminotransferasesCA-125 AntigenFemalegamma-GlutamyltransferaseGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansLiverMembrane ProteinsAlanine TransaminaseAlkaline PhosphataseAspartate AminotransferasesBiomarkers, TumorCA-125 Antigengamma-GlutamyltransferaseMembrane ProteinsMUC16 protein, humanTranscription FactorsWAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2WFDC2 protein, humanAlkaline phosphatase (ALP)Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)Clinical dataMR analysisOvarian cancer (OC)Single-cell analysis

Identifiers

PMID38915066
PMCPMC11197171

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