Exploring the role of m6A methylation regulators in glioblastoma multiforme and their impact on the tumor immune microenvironment

Although the role of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) methylation factors has been established in multiple cancer types, its involvement in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains limited. This study aims to explore the involvement of m6A regulators in GBM and examine their association with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). A comprehensive set of 24 candidate m6A RNA regulators was procured. Consensus clustering was performed based on these regulators to identify distinct GBM clusters. PD-L1 and PD-1 levels, immune cell infiltration, and immune scores were evaluated between two clusters. Prognostic signatures and correlation analysis with TIME were analyzed using Lasso and Spearman's analysis. GBM tissue was collected to verify the correlations. Eighteen m6A regulators (WTAP, YTHDF2, HNRNPC, CAPRIN1, YTHDF3, METTL14, GNL3, ZCCHC4, HNRNPD, YTHDF1, RBM15, PCIF1, RBM27, KIAA1429, MSI2, FTO, ALKBH5, and METTL3), PD-L1, and PD-1 were significantly upregulated in GBM tissue. These regulators were divided into two distinct molecular subtypes (clusters 1 and 2). Cluster 2 exhibited a significant increase in immune score, monocytes, M1 macrophages, activated mast cells, and eosinophils. HNRNPC, YWHAG, and ALKBH5 were significantly associated with TIME and positively correlated with PD-L1. Immune cell invasiveness profiles dynamically changed with copy number changes of these three m6A regulators. Finally, YWHAG and ALKBH5 were found to be independent prognostic indicators of GBM through risk analysis and were experimentally verified with clinical samples. YWHAG and ALKBH5 may be used as prognostic markers for patients with GBM. m6A methylation regulators may play an important role in regulating PD-L1/PD-1 expression and immune infiltration, thus having a significant impact on GBM TIME.