AUTHOR=Hu Junxi , Tian Shuyu , Liu Qingwen , Hou Jiaqi , wu Jun , Wang Xiaolin , Shu Yusheng TITLE=A prognostic signature of Glutathione metabolism-associated long non-coding RNAs for lung adenocarcinoma with immune microenvironment insights JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025 YEAR=2025 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1477437 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2025.1477437 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=BackgroundGlutathione (GSH) metabolism supports tumor redox balance and drug resistance, while long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) influence lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression. This study developed a prognostic model using GSH-related lncRNAs to predict LUAD outcomes and assess tumor immunity.MethodsThis study analyzed survival data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and identified GSH metabolism-related lncRNAs using Pearson correlation. A prognostic model was built with Cox and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) methods and validated by Kaplan-Meier analysis, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Functional analysis revealed immune infiltration and drug sensitivity differences. Quantitative PCR and experimental studies confirmed the role of lnc-AL162632.3 in LUAD.ResultsOur model included a total of nine lncRNAs, namely AL162632.3, AL360270.1, LINC00707, DEPDC1-AS1, GSEC, LINC01711, AL078590.2, AC026355.2, and AL096701.4. The model effectively forecasted patient survival, and the nomogram, incorporating additional clinical risk factors, satisfied clinical needs adequately. Patient stratification based on model scores revealed significant disparities in immune cell composition, functionality, and mutations between groups. Additionally, variations were noted in the IC50 values for key lung cancer medications such as Cisplatin, Docetaxel, and Paclitaxel. In vitro cell experiment results showed that AL162632.3 was markedly upregulated, while AC026355.2 tended to be downregulated across these cell lines. Ultimately, suppressing lnc-AL162632.3 markedly reduced the growth, mobility, and invasiveness of lung cancer cells.ConclusionThis study identified GSH metabolism-related lncRNAs as key prognostic factors in LUAD and developed a model for risk stratification. High-risk patients showed increased tumor mutation burden (TMB) and stemness, emphasizing the potential of personalized immunotherapy to improve survival outcomes.