# C1RL-AS1/microRNA-424-5p/adrenoceptor β2 axis: A novel regulatory mechanism in lung adenocarcinoma associated with immune infiltration and prognosis

**Authors:** Wenqi Zhao, Liming Yi, Gaopeng Wu, Zhiqi Gao, Na Sun

PMC · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0343805 · 2026-03-11

## TL;DR

This study identifies a new regulatory pathway involving ADRB2 in lung adenocarcinoma, linking it to immune response and patient survival.

## Contribution

The study reveals a novel C1RL-AS1/miR-424-5p/ADRB2 regulatory axis in lung adenocarcinoma.

## Key findings

- ADRB2 expression is reduced in LUAD and correlates with poor survival.
- Copy number deletions and DNA hypermethylation suppress ADRB2.
- ADRB2 overexpression enhances immune cell infiltration and tumor suppression.

## Abstract

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, is associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options despite advances in cancer therapy. Adrenoceptor β2 (ADRB2) has emerged as a critical gene involved in tumor immunity and progression, yet its precise role and regulatory mechanisms in LUAD remain unclear. This study analyzed ADRB2 expression, prognostic significance, and molecular alterations using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) datasets, and explored its regulatory mechanisms and impact on tumor immunity via comprehensive genomic analyses, dual-luciferase reporter assays, murine in vivo experiments, and flow cytometry. Results showed that ADRB2 expression was significantly decreased in LUAD tissues compared with normal controls, and low expression correlated with reduced patient overall survival. Copy number deletions and DNA hypermethylation were identified as key drivers of ADRB2 suppression. Hsa-miR-424-5p directly targets both ADRB2 and C1RL-AS1, forming the novel C1RL-AS1/hsa-miR-424-5p/ADRB2 regulatory axis. ADRB2 overexpression inhibited tumor growth, enhanced immune cell infiltration, and was positively correlated with immune checkpoint markers such as PD-1 and PD-L1. These findings provide a basis for developing novel LUAD treatment strategies focusing on immune modulation through ADRB2-targeted interventions.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** ADRB2 (adrenoceptor beta 2) [NCBI Gene 154], C1RL-AS1 (C1RL antisense RNA 1) [NCBI Gene 283314]
- **Diseases:** lung adenocarcinoma (MONDO:0005061), non-small cell lung cancer (MONDO:0005233)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** MAPK8 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 8) [NCBI Gene 5599] {aka JNK, JNK-46, JNK1, JNK1A2, JNK21B1/2, PRKM8}, ADRB2 (adrenoceptor beta 2) [NCBI Gene 403910], CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4) [NCBI Gene 1493] {aka ALPS5, CD, CD152, CELIAC3, CTLA-4, GRD4}, STAG3L5P (STAG3 cohesin complex component like 5, pseudogene) [NCBI Gene 101735302], ADRB2 (adrenoceptor beta 2) [NCBI Gene 397357], CD274 (CD274 molecule) [NCBI Gene 574058] {aka PDL1}, CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 925] {aka CD8, CD8alpha, IMD116, Leu2, p32}, CCL23 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 23) [NCBI Gene 6368] {aka CK-BETA-8, CKb8, Ckb-8, Ckb-8-1, MIP-3, MIP3}, MS4A4A (membrane spanning 4-domains A4A) [NCBI Gene 51338] {aka 4SPAN1, CD20-L1, CD20L1, HDCME31P, MS4A4, MS4A7}, PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1) [NCBI Gene 100533201], CEACAM8 (CEA cell adhesion molecule 8) [NCBI Gene 1088] {aka CD66b, CD67, CGM6, NCA-95}, MIR98 (microRNA 98) [NCBI Gene 407054] {aka MIRLET7L, MIRN98, hsa-mir-98, miR-98}, CTNNB1 (catenin beta 1) [NCBI Gene 1499] {aka CTNNB, EVR7, MRD19, NEDSDV, armadillo}, Ptprc (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) [NCBI Gene 19264] {aka B220, CD45R, Cd45, L-CA, Ly-5, Lyt-4}, PVRIG2P (PVR related immunoglobulin domain containing 2, pseudogene) [NCBI Gene 101752334], CD19 (CD19 molecule) [NCBI Gene 930] {aka B4, CVID3}, PILRB (paired immunoglobin like type 2 receptor beta) [NCBI Gene 29990] {aka FDFACT1, FDFACT2}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}, MIR15B (microRNA 15b) [NCBI Gene 406949] {aka MIRN15B, hsa-mir-15b, miR-15b}, ITGAX (integrin subunit alpha X) [NCBI Gene 3687] {aka CD11C, SLEB6}, CD274 (CD274 molecule) [NCBI Gene 29126] {aka ADMIO5, B7-H, B7H1, PD-L1, PDCD1L1, PDCD1LG1}, ITGAM (integrin subunit alpha M) [NCBI Gene 3684] {aka CD11B, CR3A, HNA-4, MAC-1, MAC1A, MO1A}, VSIG4 (V-set and immunoglobulin domain containing 4) [NCBI Gene 11326] {aka CRIg, Z39IG}, HSP90AA1 (heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1) [NCBI Gene 3320] {aka EL52, HEL-S-65p, HSP86, HSP89A, HSP90A, HSP90N}, MIRLET7D (microRNA let-7d) [NCBI Gene 406886] {aka LET7D, MIRNLET7D, hsa-let-7d, let-7d}, CX3CR1 (C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 1524] {aka CCRL1, CMKBRL1, CMKDR1, GPR13, GPRV28, V28}, CXCR6 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 6) [NCBI Gene 10663] {aka BONZO, CD186, CDw186, STRL33, TYMSTR}, BRCA1 (BRCA1 DNA repair associated) [NCBI Gene 672] {aka BRCAI, BRCC1, BROVCA1, FANCS, IRIS, PNCA4}, CCR6 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 6) [NCBI Gene 1235] {aka BN-1, C-C CKR-6, CC-CKR-6, CCR-6, CD196, CKR-L3}, GDE1 (glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase 1) [NCBI Gene 51573] {aka 363E6.2, MIR16}, PTGS2 (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2) [NCBI Gene 5743] {aka COX-2, COX2, GRIPGHS, PGG/HS, PGHS-2, PHS-2}, AKT1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 207] {aka AKT, PKB, PKB-ALPHA, PRKBA, RAC, RAC-ALPHA}, MYC (MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 4609] {aka MRTL, MYCC, bHLHe39, c-Myc}, STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) [NCBI Gene 6774] {aka ADMIO, ADMIO1, APRF, HIES}, APRT (adenine phosphoribosyltransferase) [NCBI Gene 353] {aka AMP, APRTD}, PTPRC (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) [NCBI Gene 5788] {aka B220, CD45, CD45R, GP180, IMD105, L-CA}, EEF1A2 (eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 2) [NCBI Gene 1917] {aka DEE33, EEF1AL, EF-1-alpha-2, EF1A, EIEE33, HS1}, IRF5 (interferon regulatory factor 5) [NCBI Gene 3663] {aka SLEB10}, Itgax (integrin alpha X) [NCBI Gene 16411] {aka Cd11c, Cr4, N418}, FOSB (FosB proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) [NCBI Gene 2354] {aka AP-1, G0S3, GOS3, GOSB}, Adrb2 (adrenergic receptor, beta 2) [NCBI Gene 11555] {aka Adrb-2, Badm, Gpcr7}, PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1) [NCBI Gene 5133] {aka ADMIO4, AIMTBS, CD279, PD-1, PD1, SLEB2}, CD163 (CD163 molecule) [NCBI Gene 9332] {aka M130, MM130, SCARI1}, NRP1 (neuropilin 1) [NCBI Gene 8829] {aka BDCA4, CD304, NP1, NRP, VEGF165R}, C1RL-AS1 (C1RL antisense RNA 1) [NCBI Gene 283314] {aka MATL2963}, CD79A (CD79a molecule) [NCBI Gene 973] {aka IGA, IGAlpha, MB-1, MB1}, H2 (histocompatibility-2, MHC) [NCBI Gene 111364] {aka H-2, MHC-II}, GABPB1-AS1 (GABPB1 antisense RNA 1) [NCBI Gene 100129387], Itgam (integrin alpha M) [NCBI Gene 16409] {aka CD11b/CD18, CR3, CR3A, Cd11b, F730045J24Rik, Ly-40}, CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4) [NCBI Gene 397286], NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, MIRLET7I (microRNA let-7i) [NCBI Gene 406891] {aka LET7I, MIRNLET7I, hsa-let-7i, let-7i}, CD8B (CD8 subunit beta) [NCBI Gene 926] {aka CD8B1, CD8beta, LEU2, LY3, LYT3, Ly-3}, MIR15A (microRNA 15a) [NCBI Gene 406948] {aka MIRN15A, hsa-mir-15a, miRNA15A, mir-15a}, CD1C (CD1c molecule) [NCBI Gene 911] {aka BDCA1, CD1, R7}, ADRB2 (adrenoceptor beta 2) [NCBI Gene 154] {aka ADRB2R, ADRBR, ARB2, B2AR, BAR, BETA2AR}, D9Mgc45e (DNA segment, Chr 9, MRC UK Mouse Genome Centre 45 expressed) [NCBI Gene 28134] {aka CD3}, Cd4 (CD4 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12504] {aka L3T4, Ly-4}, NOS2 (nitric oxide synthase 2) [NCBI Gene 4843] {aka HEP-NOS, INOS, NOS, NOS2A}
- **Diseases:** metastasis (MESH:D009362), impaired mobility (MESH:D014086), colon cancer (MESH:D015179), pulmonary arterial hypertension (MESH:D000081029), THCA (MESH:D013964), Death (MESH:D003643), UCEC (MESH:D016889), weight loss (MESH:D015431), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), ACC (MESH:D004476), KICH (MESH:D007674), Lewis lung carcinoma (MESH:D018827), SKCM (MESH:C562393), THYM (MESH:D013945), ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, sarcoma (MESH:D010049), ESCA (MESH:D004938), PCPG (MESH:D010673), lymphoid neoplasm diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (MESH:D016403), dislocation (MESH:D004204), LIHC (MESH:D006528), BLCA (MESH:D001749), glioblastoma multiforme, esophageal carcinoma (MESH:D005909), KIRC (MESH:D002292), GBM (MESH:D005910), trauma (MESH:D014947), inflammatory (MESH:D007249), PAAD (MESH:D010190), small cell lung cancer (MESH:D055752), uterine carcinosarcoma (MESH:D002296), PRAD (MESH:D000230), Tumors (MESH:D009369), Lung cancer (MESH:D008175), testicular germ cell tumors (MESH:C563236), READ (MESH:D012004), STAD (MESH:D013274), LUAD (MESH:D000077192), bleeding (MESH:D006470), diarrhea (MESH:D003967), CHOL (MESH:D018281), carcinogenesis (MESH:D063646), SARC (MESH:D012509), acute myeloid leukemia (MESH:D015470), COAD (MESH:D003110), adrenocortical carcinoma (MESH:D018268), LUSC (MESH:D002294), natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity (MESH:D000077428), HNSC (MESH:D000077195), NSCLC (MESH:D002289)
- **Chemicals:** BNCC338433 (-), YM201636 (MESH:C540576), penicillin (MESH:D010406), puromycin (MESH:D011691), gefitinib (MESH:D000077156), Lipofectamine (MESH:C086724), CO2 (MESH:D002245), Afatinib (MESH:D000077716), PBS (MESH:D007854), calcium (MESH:D002118), glucose (MESH:D005947), docetaxel (MESH:D000077143), oxygen (MESH:D010100), streptomycin (MESH:D013307), CCK-8 (MESH:D012844), isoflurane (MESH:D007530), bleomycin (MESH:D001761), SDS (MESH:D012967), insulin (MESH:D007328), navitoclax (MESH:C528561)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]
- **Mutations:** C45R
- **Cell lines:** H520 — Homo sapiens (Human), Lung squamous cell carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_1566), C57BL/6 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Transformed cell line (CVCL_C0MU), UCEC — Homo sapiens (Human), Endometrial carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_W380), STAD — Homo sapiens (Human), Gastric signet ring cell adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_S859), HCC827 — Homo sapiens (Human), Lung adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_2063), LLC — Mus musculus (Mouse), Malignant tumors of the mouse pulmonary system, Cancer cell line (CVCL_4358), LUSC — Homo sapiens (Human), Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0D71), SCC-120511 — Siniperca chuatsi (Mandarin fish), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_C0WY), BLCA — Homo sapiens (Human), Bladder carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_2743), 293T — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0063), A549 — Homo sapiens (Human), Lung adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0023), CHOL — Homo sapiens (Human), Cholangiocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_4Z42), H1703 — Homo sapiens (Human), Lung squamous cell carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_1490), BEAS-2B — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0168), ZQ0014 — Homo sapiens (Human), Fragile X syndrome, Transformed cell line (CVCL_8U31), ZQ0386 — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_8Z64)

## Figures

11 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12978463/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12978463