ADRB2 expression predicts the clinical outcomes and is associated with immune cells infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

The gene encoding beta2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR), adrenoceptor beta 2 (ADRB2), has been reported to closely associated with various cancers. However, its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains controversial. This research shed light on the prognostic value of ADRB2 in LUAD and further explored its association with immune cell infiltration. ADRB2 was significantly decreased in LUAD. ADRB2 expression in LUAD was significantly correlated with gender, smoking status, T classification, and pathologic stage. Patients in the low ADRB2 expression group presented with significantly poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) results showed that ADRB2 participates in immune response. The expression of ADRB2 was positively correlated with the infiltration level of most immune cells. Notably, ADRB2 is involved in LUAD progression partly by regulating the immune microenvironment, which may potentially serve as a significant prognostic biomarker as well as a potential drug target.