The upregulation of TGM2 is associated with poor prognosis and the shaping of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Tissue transglutaminase (TGM2) is a member of the glutamine transferase superfamily, located within cells and their membranes. When secreted, it catalyzes the cross-linking of extracellular matrix proteins and promotes the formation of extracellular matrix scaffolds. To determine the function of TGM2 in the tumorigenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), we conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of TGM2. Our findings indicate that high expression of TGM2 in LUSC was associated with a poorer prognosis. Additionally, we found that high expression of TGM2 is closely related to tumor-promoting inflammation and may increase sensitivity to immunotherapy. We further confirmed the cancer-promoting effect of TGM2 in LUSC through in vitro overexpression and knockdown experiments and showed that TGM2 primarily affects cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. In summary, TGM2 promoted the progression of LUSC, and targeting TGM2 is expected to become a new therapeutic approach for LUSC treatment.