# Mitophagy-related gene TRIP13 predicts prognosis and immune response and promotes proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

**Authors:** Zhongjun Jiang, Lanlan Wang, Zhongrun He, Lian Guo, Wen Luo, Ying Fu, Qiyu Xiao, Guanglan Chen, Yinzi Liu

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1736086 · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2025-12-18

## TL;DR

This study identifies TRIP13 as a key gene in kidney cancer that affects survival, immune response, and cancer cell movement.

## Contribution

TRIP13 is newly identified as a prognostic and immune-related gene in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

## Key findings

- TRIP13 is highly expressed in ccRCC and linked to poor prognosis.
- TRIP13 knockdown reduces cancer cell growth and increases immune cell response.
- A risk model using MRGs accurately predicts ccRCC patient outcomes.

## Abstract

The incidence of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is increasing every year. Mitophagy is a unique form of autophagy that plays a crucial role in cancer development and invasion. However, its role in ccRCC remains to be fully elucidated.

After extracting mitophagy-related genes (MRGs), differential expression analysis was performed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to screen prognostic-related DEGs, CNV mutation frequencies were compared, and consensus cluster analysis was constructed to evaluate the survival and functional enrichment status among different subtypes. LASSO Cox regression analysis was used to identify key prognostic genes and construct risk models to evaluate the prognostic value and immune contribution. The protein and mRNA expression levels of independent prognostic genes and their effects on ccRCC function were verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments.

The study found 174 DEGs, including 9 prognosis-related DEGs. These 9 DEGs were used to cluster ccRCC patients into two subtypes. Significant differences existed between the two subtypes in the survival status and KEGG functions. Finally, three core genes (JUP, TRIP13, and ACAD11) were identified for constructing a risk model, which can accurately predict the prognosis of ccRCC patients and evaluate the immune status. TRIP13 was identified as a key independent prognostic gene for ccRCC, and its protein and mRNA expression levels were highly expressed in ccRCC. ccRCC growth and motility can be markedly inhibited by TRIP13 knockdown, which also increases their susceptibility to destruction by CD8+ T cells.

The prognosis and immune response of patients with ccRCC could be reliably estimated by the model in our cohorts created using MRGs in this research. The development of ccRCC is significantly influenced by MRGs, particularly TRIP13. This study can assist in offering ccRCC patients individualized treatment options.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** TRIP13 (thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13) [NCBI Gene 9319], JUP (junction plakoglobin) [NCBI Gene 3728], ACAD11 (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family member 11) [NCBI Gene 84129]
- **Diseases:** clear cell renal cell carcinoma (MONDO:0005005), ccRCC (MONDO:0007763)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 925] {aka CD8, CD8alpha, IMD116, Leu2, p32}, ACAD11 (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family member 11) [NCBI Gene 84129] {aka ACAD-11}, TRIP13 (thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13) [NCBI Gene 9319] {aka 16E1BP, MVA3, OOMD9, OZEMA9}, JUP (junction plakoglobin) [NCBI Gene 3728] {aka CTNNG, DP3, DPIII, PDGB, PG, PKGB}
- **Diseases:** cancer (MESH:D009369), ccRCC (MESH:D002292)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12756432/full.md

## Figures

10 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12756432/full.md

## References

71 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12756432/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12756432