Single-cell analysis of TIGD genes in hepatocellular carcinoma: Prognostic value and functional characterization

作者：Jing Liu, Xiaopeng Chen, Cheng Liu, Chengwei Yang, Baoding Li · 发表于：Translational Oncology · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1016/j.tranon.2026.102722 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Cancer Cells and Metastasis、Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics、Cell Adhesion Molecules Research

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer with limited therapies. Although transposable element-derived genes are increasingly linked to tumorigenesis, the role of the TIGD family in HCC remains unclear. This study examined the expression, clinical significance, and stemness-related features of TIGDs in HCC, emphasizing their prognostic and therapeutic potential. METHOD: TIGD expression was analyzed using TCGA data via GEPIA2, cBioPortal, and Kaplan-Meier Plotter, with protein validation from the Human Protein Atlas. Single-cell RNA-seq data (GSE242889) were used to examine TIGD expression across hepatic cell types. Survival and Cox regression analyses assessed prognostic value, while functional enrichment and immune infiltration analyses explored biological roles. TIGD5-high and TIGD5-low epithelial subsets were compared for functional features and cell-cell communication. RESULTS: TIGD1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were significantly upregulated in HCC. High TIGD4, TIGD5, and TIGD6 expression correlated with poorer overall survival and served as independent prognostic markers. TIGD5 exhibited the broadest and highest expression across immune and stromal compartments. Stratification of epithelial cells into TIGD5-high and TIGD5-low subsets revealed distinct functional phenotypes: TIGD5-high cells showed enrichment in extracellular matrix organization, growth factor signaling, and immune regulatory pathways, with enhanced communication probability within the tu...