Molecular characteristics and oncogenic role of CHD family genes: a pan-cancer analysis based on bioinformatic and biological analysis

Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein (CHD) gene family, an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) -dependent chromatin remodeler family, is involved in multiple developmental process and tumor development. However, there have been none pan-cancer analyses of this family. The expression levels, survival profiles, mutation profiles and immune infiltration of the CHD family genes from TCGA and TARGET database were analyzed using online tools or R packages. Interestingly, all types of CHD gene expressions were associated with the prognosis of Neuroblastoma, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia-Phase 3 and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (All P < 0.05). Knock down of CHD7 and CHD9 in K562 (human erythromyeloblastoid leukemia) and HEC-1-B (human endometrial adenocarcinoma) cells significantly inhibit cell proliferation and migration (P < 0.05). Proliferation, colony formation and migration assays were performed in CHD7 and CHD9 knockdown K562 and HBC-1-B cell lines. Mechanisms were also analyzed by PPI and GO ontology for our experiments. Histone modification, especially the methylation of H3K4, might be involved in CHD7 and CHD9 related oncogenesis. Through bioinformatic analysis, we showed CHD genes significantly affected the prognosis of different tumor types, including childhood tumor. Our findings provide new insights into the function and mechanism of CHD gene family, especially in CHD7 and CHD9.