An extensive bioinformatics study on the role of mitochondrial solute carrier family 25 in PC and its mechanism behind affecting immune infiltration and tumor energy metabolism

BACKGROUND: Several metabolic disorders and malignancies are directly related to abnormal mitochondrial solute carrier family 25 (SLC25A) members activity. However, its biological role in pancreatic cancer (PC) is not entirely understood. METHODS: The lasso method was used to create a novel prognostic risk model for PC based on SLC25A members, and its roles in tumor immunology and energy metabolism were explored. Furthermore, co-expression networks were constructed for SLC25A11, SLC25A29, and SLC25A44. Single-cell RNA sequencing (ScRNA-seq) revealed the distribution of gene expression in PC. Tumor immune infiltration was examined with the TIMER database. Lastly, drug sensitivity was investigated, and co-transcriptional factors were predicted. RESULTS: In the present study, a novel prognostic risk model was established and validated for PC based on SLC25A members. The high-risk group had a lower activation of oxidative phosphorylation and a more abundant immune infiltration phenotype than the low-risk group. According to co-expression network studies, SLC25A11, SLC25A29, and SLC25A44 were involved in the energy metabolism of PC and prevented tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. ScRNA-seq research also pointed to their contribution to the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, the recruitment of numerous immune cells was positively correlated with SLC25A11 and SLC25A44 but negatively correlated with SLC25A29. Additionally, the sensitivity to 20 Food and Drug Administration-approved antineoplastic medicines was strongly linked to the aforementioned genes, where cisplatin sensitivity increased with the up-regulation of SLC25A29. Finally, the Scleraxis BHLH Transcription Factor (SCX) and other proteins were hypothesized to co-regulate the mRNA transcription of the genes. CONCLUSION: SLC25A members are crucial for tumor immune and energy metabolism in PC, and SLC25A11, SLC25A29, and SLC25A44 can be used as favorable prognostic markers. The use of these markers will provide new directions to unravel their action mechanisms in PC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03756-2.