# The role of SIGLEC9 in immunosuppression and prognosis in cervical cancer

## TL;DR

This study shows that high SIGLEC9 levels in cervical cancer are linked to worse outcomes and immune cell interactions, suggesting it could be a target for new treatments.

## Contribution

The study identifies SIGLEC9 as a novel immune checkpoint in cervical cancer and links its expression to poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration.

## Key findings

- SIGLEC9 is significantly upregulated in cervical cancer and correlates with poor prognosis.
- SIGLEC9+ TAMs are enriched in the tumor microenvironment and associated with reduced survival.
- SIGLEC9 interacts with macrophages and T-cells, suggesting a role in immunosuppression.

## Abstract

•SIGLEC9 is highly expressed in cervical cancer and linked to poor prognosis.•Bioinformatics show SIGLEC9 correlates with macrophages and T-cells.•SIGLEC9+ TAMs and T-cells are highly enriched in the cervical cancer microenvironment.•High SIGLEC9+ TAM expression correlates with poor prognosis in cervical cancer.

SIGLEC9 is highly expressed in cervical cancer and linked to poor prognosis.

Bioinformatics show SIGLEC9 correlates with macrophages and T-cells.

SIGLEC9+ TAMs and T-cells are highly enriched in the cervical cancer microenvironment.

High SIGLEC9+ TAM expression correlates with poor prognosis in cervical cancer.

This study investigates the role of Sialic acid-binding Immunoglobulin-Like Lectin-9 (SIGLEC9), a novel immune checkpoint, in Cervical Cancer (CC) and its interaction with immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

SIGLEC9 expression in CC was analyzed using the TNM plot, TCGA, and Human Protein Atlas databases, alongside its correlation with tumor stage. The relationship between SIGLEC9 expression and immune cell infiltration was explored using TCGA and TISIDB databases. Single-cell analysis focused on SIGLEC9 in macrophages. Protein interactions were assessed through the String, IntAct, BioGRID, and Mentha databases. MUC1 expression was validated via GEO and GEPIA databases. Immunohistochemical staining, western blot, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry were used for verification. The prognostic significance of SIGLEC9 and SIGLEC9+ Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) was evaluated.

SIGLEC9 was found to be significantly upregulated in CC, with higher levels correlating with poor prognosis. It was expressed in macrophages and T-cells, and elevated SIGLEC9+ TAMs were linked to reduced overall survival.

SIGLEC9 plays a crucial role in the progression and prognosis of cervical cancer through its interaction with TAMs and T-cells. These findings highlight SIGLEC9 as a potential target for new immunotherapies in CC.