Lactate-related gene signatures predict prognosis and immune profiles in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Previous studies have demonstrated the detrimental effects of lactate on patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, six lactate-related hub genes (SLC16A7, GFM1, PDP1, TRMT5,COX5A, and KIF23) were identified in ESCC. Significant differences were observed in various immune cell populations, including naive B cells and memory B cells, between ESCC and normal samples. scRNA-seq analysis revealed distinct cell subpopulations, such as T cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells. The lactylation score was notably greater in the ESCC samples than in the normal samples. Further comparison of lactylation scores across subpopulations revealed significantly elevated levels of monocytes, B cells, epithelial cells, and neutrophils in ESCC samples, whereas T cells and fibroblasts had higher scores in normal samples. CellChat analysis revealed that lactylation-associated subpopulations, particularly epithelial and immune cells, presented increased intercellular communication in the high-lactylation group. Additionally, KIF23, TRMT5, TEFM, SLC25A13, TIMM50, DGUOK, DNM1L and COX5A exhibited trends consistent with expectations in the two ESCC cell lines. This study identified six hub genes relevant to ESCC, offering a theoretical foundation for potential therapeutic approaches in ESCC.