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Koch J, Neuberger M, Schmidt-Dengler M, Xu J, Carneiro VC, Ellinger J, Kriegmair MC, Nuhn P, Erben P, Michel MS, Helm M, Rodríguez-Paredes M, Nientiedt M, Lyko F. Reinvestigating the clinical relevance of the m 6A writer METTL3 in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. iScience 2023; 26:107300. [PMID: 37554463 PMCID: PMC10405067 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
METTL3 is the major writer of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) and has been associated with controversial roles in cancer. This is best illustrated in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB), where METTL3 was described to have both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions. Here, we reinvestigated the role of METTL3 in UCB. METTL3 knockout reduced the oncogenic phenotype and m6A levels of UCB cell lines. However, complete depletion of METTL3/m6A was not achieved due to selection of cells expressing alternative METTL3 isoforms. Systematic vulnerability and inhibitor response analyses suggested that uroepithelial cells depend on METTL3 for viability. Furthermore, expression and survival analyses of clinical data revealed a complex role for METTL3 in UCB, with decreased m6A mRNA levels in UCB tumors. Our results suggest that METTL3 expression may be a suitable diagnostic UCB biomarker, as the enzyme promotes UCB formation. However, the suitability of the enzyme as a therapeutic target should be evaluated carefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Koch
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuel Neuberger
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martina Schmidt-Dengler
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jinyun Xu
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vitor Coutinho Carneiro
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jörg Ellinger
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Maximilian C. Kriegmair
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Philipp Nuhn
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Philipp Erben
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Maurice Stephan Michel
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Mark Helm
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Manuel Rodríguez-Paredes
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Malin Nientiedt
- Department of Urology and Urosurgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Wu Y, Du B, Lin M, Ji X, Lv C, Lai J. The identification of genes associated T-cell exhaustion and construction of prognostic signature to predict immunotherapy response in lung adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13415. [PMID: 37592010 PMCID: PMC10435542 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40662-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell exhaustion (Tex) is considered to be a reason for immunotherapy resistance and poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma. Therefore, we used weighted correlation network analysis to identify Tex-related genes in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA). Unsupervised clustering approach based on Tex-related genes divided patients into cluster 1 and cluster 2. Then, we utilized random forest and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator to identify nine key genes to construct a riskscore. Patients were classified as low or high-risk groups. The multivariate cox analysis showed the riskscore was an independent prognostic factor in TCGA and GSE72094 cohorts. Moreover, patients in cluster 2 with high riskscore had the worst prognosis. The immune response prediction analysis showed the low-risk group had higher immune, stromal, estimate scores, higher immunophenscore (IPS), and lower tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion score which suggested a better response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy in the low-risk group. In the meantime, we included two independent immunotherapy cohorts that also confirmed a better response to ICIs treatment in the low-risk group. Besides, we discovered differences in chemotherapy and targeted drug sensitivity between two groups. Finally, a nomogram was built to facilitate clinical decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahua Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No. 29 Xinquan Street, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian, China
| | - Bin Du
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No. 29 Xinquan Street, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian, China
| | - Mingqiang Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Jin'an District, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaohui Ji
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Chengliu Lv
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No. 29 Xinquan Street, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian, China
| | - Jinhuo Lai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No. 29 Xinquan Street, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian, China.
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53
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Qi YN, Liu Z, Hong LL, Li P, Ling ZQ. Methyltransferase-like proteins in cancer biology and potential therapeutic targeting. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:89. [PMID: 37533128 PMCID: PMC10394802 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA modification has recently become a significant process of gene regulation, and the methyltransferase-like (METTL) family of proteins plays a critical role in RNA modification, methylating various types of RNAs, including mRNA, tRNA, microRNA, rRNA, and mitochondrial RNAs. METTL proteins consist of a unique seven-beta-strand domain, which binds to the methyl donor SAM to catalyze methyl transfer. The most typical family member METTL3/METTL14 forms a methyltransferase complex involved in N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA, regulating tumor proliferation, metastasis and invasion, immunotherapy resistance, and metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. METTL1, METTL4, METTL5, and METTL16 have also been recently identified to have some regulatory ability in tumorigenesis, and the rest of the METTL family members rely on their methyltransferase activity for methylation of different nucleotides, proteins, and small molecules, which regulate translation and affect processes such as cell differentiation and development. Herein, we summarize the literature on METTLs in the last three years to elucidate their roles in human cancers and provide a theoretical basis for their future use as potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Qi
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, P.R. China
| | - Zhu Liu
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, P.R. China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Lian-Lian Hong
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, P.R. China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Pei Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, P.R. China.
| | - Zhi-Qiang Ling
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
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54
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Kong Y, Yu J, Ge S, Fan X. Novel insight into RNA modifications in tumor immunity: Promising targets to prevent tumor immune escape. Innovation (N Y) 2023; 4:100452. [PMID: 37485079 PMCID: PMC10362524 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2023.100452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
An immunosuppressive state is a typical feature of the tumor microenvironment. Despite the dramatic success of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in preventing tumor cell escape from immune surveillance, primary and acquired resistance have limited its clinical use. Notably, recent clinical trials have shown that epigenetic drugs can significantly improve the outcome of ICI therapy in various cancers, indicating the importance of epigenetic modifications in immune regulation of tumors. Recently, RNA modifications (N6-methyladenosine [m6A], N1-methyladenosine [m1A], 5-methylcytosine [m5C], etc.), novel hotspot areas of epigenetic research, have been shown to play crucial roles in protumor and antitumor immunity. In this review, we provide a comprehensive understanding of how m6A, m1A, and m5C function in tumor immunity by directly regulating different immune cells as well as indirectly regulating tumor cells through different mechanisms, including modulating the expression of immune checkpoints, inducing metabolic reprogramming, and affecting the secretion of immune-related factors. Finally, we discuss the current status of strategies targeting RNA modifications to prevent tumor immune escape, highlighting their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Kong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200001, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200001, China
| | - Shengfang Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200001, China
| | - Xianqun Fan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200001, China
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55
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Chen C, Chao Y, Zhang C, Hu W, Huang Y, Lv Y, Liu B, Ji D, Liu M, Yang B, Jiang L, Liang Y, Zhang H, Yuan G, Ying X, Ji W. TROP2 translation mediated by dual m 6A/m 7G RNA modifications promotes bladder cancer development. Cancer Lett 2023; 566:216246. [PMID: 37268280 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
RNA modifications, including adenine methylation (m6A) of mRNA and guanine methylation (m7G) of tRNA, are crucial for the biological function of RNA. However, the mechanism underlying the translation of specific genes synergistically mediated by dual m6A/m7G RNA modifications in bladder cancer (BCa) remains unclear. We demonstrated that m6A methyltransferase METTL3-mediated programmable m6A modification of oncogene trophoblast cell surface protein 2 (TROP2) mRNA promoted its translation during malignant transformation of bladder epithelial cells. m7G methyltransferase METTL1 enhanced TROP2 translation by mediating m7G modification of certain tRNAs. TROP2 protein inhibition decreased the proliferation and invasion of BCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, synergistical knockout of METTL3/METTL1 inhibited BCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; however, TROP2 overexpression partially abrogated its effect. Furthermore, TROP2 expression was significantly positively correlated with the expression levels of METTL3 and METTL1 in BCa patients. Overall, our results revealed that METTL3/METTL1-mediated dual m6A/m7G RNA modifications enhanced TROP2 translation and promoted BCa development, indicating a novel RNA epigenetic mechanism in BCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Chen
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yinghui Chao
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Chengcheng Zhang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wenyu Hu
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yapeng Huang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yifan Lv
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urology, Department of Urology, Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, Guangzhou Urology Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Bixia Liu
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ding Ji
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Mingrui Liu
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Baotong Yang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Lujing Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yaomin Liang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Haiqing Zhang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Gang Yuan
- Private Medical Service & Healthcare Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Xiaoling Ying
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Weidong Ji
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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56
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Xiao H, Zhao R, Meng W, Liao Y. Effects and translatomics characteristics of a small-molecule inhibitor of METTL3 against non-small cell lung cancer. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:625-639. [PMID: 37440912 PMCID: PMC10334285 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the heterogeneity promotes drug resistance, and the restricted expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) limits the immunotherapy benefits. Based on the mechanisms related to translation regulation and the association with PD-L1 of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), the novel small-molecule inhibitor STM2457 is assumed to be useful for the treatment of NSCLC. We evaluated the efficacy of STM2457 in vivo and in vitro and confirmed the effects of its inhibition on disease progression. Next, we explored the effect of STM2457 on METTL3 and revealed its effects on the inhibition of catalytic activity and upregulation of METTL3 protein expression. Importantly, we described the genome-wide characteristics of multiple omics data acquired from RNA sequencing, ribosome profiling, and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing data under STM2457 treatment or METTL3 knockout. We also constructed a model for the regulation of the translation of METTL3 and PD-L1. Finally, we found PD-L1 upregulation by STM2457 in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, STM2457 is a potential novel suppressor based on its inhibitory effect on tumor progression and may be able to overcome the heterogeneity based on its impact on the translatome. Furthermore, it can improve the immunotherapy outcomes based on PD-L1 upregulation in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Xiao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Rong Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Wangyang Meng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yongde Liao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
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57
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Zhuang H, Yu B, Tao D, Xu X, Xu Y, Wang J, Jiao Y, Wang L. The role of m6A methylation in therapy resistance in cancer. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:91. [PMID: 37264402 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01782-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapy resistance is the main cause of cancer treatment failure. The mechanism of therapy resistance is a hot topic in epigenetics. As one of the most common RNA modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is involved in various processes of RNA metabolism, such as stability, splicing, transcription, translation, and degradation. A large number of studies have shown that m6A RNA methylation regulates the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells, but the role of m6A in cancer therapy resistance is unclear. In this review, we summarized the research progress related to the role of m6A in regulating therapy resistance in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengzhao Zhuang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 21500, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Affiliated Jiangyin People's Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangyin, 214400, China
| | - Dan Tao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dushu Lake Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, 21500, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 21500, China
| | - Yijun Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 21500, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Affiliated Jiangyin People's Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangyin, 214400, China.
| | - Yang Jiao
- School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China.
| | - Lili Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 21500, China.
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58
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Zhu W, Zhao R, Guan X, Wang X. The emerging roles and mechanism of N6-methyladenosine (m 6A) modifications in urologic tumours progression. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1192495. [PMID: 37284313 PMCID: PMC10239868 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1192495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa), bladder cancer (BC), and renal cell cancer (RCC) are the most common urologic tumours in males. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), adenosine N6 methylation, is the most prevalent RNA modification in mammals. Increasing evidence suggests that m6A plays a crucial role in cancer development. In this review, we comprehensively analyzed the influence of m6A methylation on Prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and renal cell cancer and the relationship between the expression of relevant regulatory factors and their development and occurrence, which provides new insights and approaches for the early clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy of urologic malignancies.
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59
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Yang J, Xu J, Wang W, Zhang B, Yu X, Shi S. Epigenetic regulation in the tumor microenvironment: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:210. [PMID: 37217462 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01480-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Over decades, researchers have focused on the epigenetic control of DNA-templated processes. Histone modification, DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, RNA modification, and noncoding RNAs modulate many biological processes that are crucial to the development of cancers. Dysregulation of the epigenome drives aberrant transcriptional programs. A growing body of evidence suggests that the mechanisms of epigenetic modification are dysregulated in human cancers and might be excellent targets for tumor treatment. Epigenetics has also been shown to influence tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses. Thus, the development and application of epigenetic therapy and cancer immunotherapy and their combinations may have important implications for cancer treatment. Here, we present an up-to-date and thorough description of how epigenetic modifications in tumor cells influence immune cell responses in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and how epigenetics influence immune cells internally to modify the TME. Additionally, we highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting epigenetic regulators for cancer immunotherapy. Harnessing the complex interplay between epigenetics and cancer immunology to develop therapeutics that combine thereof is challenging but could yield significant benefits. The purpose of this review is to assist researchers in understanding how epigenetics impact immune responses in the TME, so that better cancer immunotherapies can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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60
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Meng W, Han Y, Li B, Li H. The diverse role of RNA methylation in esophageal cancer. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023. [PMID: 37070847 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is one of the major life-threatening diseases in the world. RNA methylation is the most common post-transcriptional modification and a wide-ranging regulatory system controlling gene expression. Numerous studies have revealed that dysregulation of RNA methylation is critical for cancer development and progression. However, the diverse role of RNA methylation and its regulators in esophageal cancer remains to be elucidated and summarized. In this review, we focus on the regulation of major RNA methylation, including m 6A, m 5C, and m 7G, as well as the expression patterns and clinical implications of its regulators in esophageal cancer. We systematically summarize how these RNA modifications affect the "life cycle" of target RNAs, including mRNA, microRNA, long non-coding RNA, and tRNA. The downstream signaling pathways associated with RNA methylation during the development and treatment of esophageal cancer are also discussed in detail. Further studies on how these modifications function together in the microenvironment of esophageal cancer will draw a clearer picture of the clinical application of novel and specific therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangyang Meng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yichao Han
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hecheng Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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61
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Chen X, Lu T, Cai Y, Han Y, Ding M, Chu Y, Zhou X, Wang X. KIAA1429-mediated m6A modification of CHST11 promotes progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by regulating Hippo-YAP pathway. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2023; 28:32. [PMID: 37076815 PMCID: PMC10114474 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-023-00445-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been shown to participate in various essential biological processes by regulating the level of target genes. However, the function of m6A modification mediated by KIAA1429 [alias virus-like m6A methyltransferase-associated protein (VIRMA)] during the progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains undefined. METHODS The expression and clinical significance of KIAA1429 were verified by our clinical data. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated KIAA1429 deletion, and CRISPR/dCas9-VP64 for activating endogenous KIAA1429 was used to evaluate its biological function. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, luciferase activity assay, RNA stability experiments, and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of KIAA1429 in DLBCL. Tumor xenograft models were established for in vivo experiments. RESULTS Dysregulated expression of m6A regulators was observed, and a novel predictive model based on m6A score was established in DLBCL. Additionally, elevated KIAA1429 expression was associated with poor prognosis of patients with DLBCL. Knockout of KIAA1429 repressed DLBCL cell proliferation, facilitated cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, induced apoptosis in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, carbohydrate sulfotransferase 11 (CHST11) was identified as a downstream target of KIAA1429, which mediated m6A modification of CHST11 mRNA and then recruited YTHDF2 for reducing CHST11 stability and expression. Inhibition of CHST11 diminished MOB1B expression, resulting in inactivation of Hippo-YAP signaling, reprogramming the expression of Hippo target genes. CONCLUSIONS Our results revealed a new mechanism by which the Hippo-YAP pathway in DLBCL is inactivated by KIAA1429/YTHDF2-coupled epitranscriptional repression of CHST11, highlighting the potential of KIAA1429 as a novel predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for DLBCL progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Chen
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Tiange Lu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Yiqing Cai
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Yang Han
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Mengfei Ding
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Yurou Chu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
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Zhu J, Tong H, Sun Y, Li T, Yang G, He W. YTHDF1 Promotes Bladder Cancer Cell Proliferation via the METTL3/YTHDF1-RPN2-PI3K/AKT/mTOR Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24086905. [PMID: 37108067 PMCID: PMC10139185 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24086905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common mRNA modification and it plays a critical role in tumor progression, prognoses and therapeutic response. In recent years, more and more studies have shown that m6A modifications play an important role in bladder carcinogenesis and development. However, the regulatory mechanisms of m6A modifications are complex. Whether the m6A reading protein YTHDF1 is involved in the development of bladder cancer remains to be elucidated. The aims of this study were to determine the association between METTL3/YTHDF1 and bladder cancer cell proliferation and cisplatin resistance to explore the downstream target genes of METTL3/YTHDF1 and to explore the therapeutic implications for bladder cancer patients. The results showed that the reduced expression of METTL3/YTHDF1 could lead to decreased bladder cancer cell proliferation and cisplatin sensitivity. Meanwhile, overexpression of the downstream target gene, RPN2, could rescue the effect of reduced METTL3/YTHDF1 expression on bladder cancer cells. In conclusion, this study proposes a novel METTL3/YTHDF1-RPN2-PI3K/AKT/mTOR regulatory axis that affects bladder cancer cell proliferation and cisplatin sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlong Zhu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hang Tong
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Tinghao Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Weiyang He
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
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63
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Gan L, Zhao Y, Fu Y, Chen Q. The potential role of m6A modifications on immune cells and immunotherapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 160:114343. [PMID: 36758318 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A), is the most prevalent and reversible post-transcriptional epigenetic modification of RNA in mammals. Dysregulation of m6A modifications impacts RNA procession, degradation, translocation, and translation, disrupting immune cell homeostasis and promoting tumor initiation and development. Here, we discuss an -up-to-date summary of the mechanisms by which m6A modifications regulate immune cell anti-tumor as well as self-homeostasis. We also present how the dysregulation of m6A modifications intrinsic to tumor cells regulates the function of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Meanwhile, we described some specific inhibitors targeting m6A modulators and discussed their potential use in cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linchuan Gan
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350117, PR China
| | - Yuxiang Zhao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350117, PR China
| | - Yajuan Fu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350117, PR China.
| | - Qi Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350117, PR China.
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64
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Liu L, Liang L, Li H, Shao W, Yang C, Lin F, Liu J, Zhang J. The role of m6A-mediated PD-1/PD-L1 in antitumor immunity. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 210:115460. [PMID: 36822438 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent, abundant and conserved type of internal posttranscriptional RNA modification in eukaryotic cells. Emerging evidence suggests that m6A modifications perform important functions that affect antitumor immunity. Programmed death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) are the two most well-studied immune checkpoint pathways. The interaction of PD-L1 with its receptor PD-1 inhibits cytotoxic T-cell-mediated tumor responses, and blockade of this interaction has proven to be an effective immunotherapy strategy in various cancers. Unfortunately, few cancer patients benefit from the two tools due to uncertain resistance. m6A plays an important role in affecting RNA biogenesis and process in various cancers. Understanding the molecular mechanism of drug resistance will promote the development of personalized clinical management. In this review, we systematically discussed the mechanisms by which m6A regulates PD-1 and PD-L1 expression and further their functions in the process of tumor immunotherapy and the potential application prospects of m6A-associated molecules. Moreover, mounting m6Ascore is established to evaluate the prognosis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Institution of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, China
| | - Long Liang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078 Hunan, China
| | - Hui Li
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078 Hunan, China; Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Clinical Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Wenjun Shao
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Institution of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, China
| | - Chaoying Yang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078 Hunan, China
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Urology Surgery, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033 Guangdong, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Clinical Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
| | - Ji Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Institution of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001 Hunan, China; The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421002 Hunan, China.
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65
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Hao R, Zhang L, Si Y, Zhang P, Wang Y, Li B, Hu J, Qi Y. A novel feedback regulated loop of circRRM2-IGF2BP1-MYC promotes breast cancer metastasis. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:54. [PMID: 36966311 PMCID: PMC10039515 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02895-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality in patients with breast cancer (BC). Studies demonstrate that circular RNAs (circRNAs) were involved in BC progression, while the molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear. METHODS The microArray circRNA profiles were used to explore the differential expression circRNAs in BC and paracancerous normal tissues, and the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to validate their expression level in clinical samples and cell lines. Nuclear/cytosolic fractionation and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were performed to examine circRRM2 (hsa_circ_0052582) subcellular location. The scratch wound healing and transwell assays were conducted to evaluate the impact of circRRM2 on BC cell migration and invasion. We predicted miRNAs that might bind with cricRRM2 and the downstream target genes using bioinformatics analysis and explored their expression levels and prognostic value in BC. FISH, RNA immunoprecipitation, Co-immunoprecipitation, Western blot, and rescue experiments were implemented to figure out circRRM2 function and underlying mechanisms in BC. RESULTS The present study revealed several aberrant circRNAs in BC tissues and observed that circRRM2 was upregulated in tumor tissues of 40 patients with BC. High circRRM2 was significantly associated with advanced N stage in patients with BC. Gain- and loss- of function experiments revealed that circRRM2 promoted the migration and invasion of cells and functioned as an oncogene in BC. Mechanism studies showed that circRRM2 competed with miR-31-5p/miR-27b-3p to upregulate the IGF2BP1 expression. Furthermore, IGF2BP1 upregulated the circRRM2 level via interacting with MYC, which functioned as the transcriptional factor of circRRM2. Thus, the positive feedback loop that was composed of circRRM2/IGF2BP1/MYC was identified. CONCLUSION This study confirms that upregulated circRRM2 functions an oncogenic role in BC metastasis. The positive feedback loop of circRRM2/IGF2BP1/MYC enforces the circRRM2 expression, which might offer a potential target for BC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Hao
- Institutes of Health Research, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Institutes of Health Research, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yangming Si
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Institutes of Health Research, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Department of Military Nursing, NCO School, Army Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yipeng Wang
- Institutes of Health Research, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Bangchao Li
- Department of Breast Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jie Hu
- Department of Science and Technology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
| | - Yixin Qi
- Department of Breast Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
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66
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Cao X, Geng Q, Fan D, Wang Q, Wang X, Zhang M, Zhao L, Jiao Y, Deng T, Liu H, Zhou J, Jia L, Xiao C. m 6A methylation: a process reshaping the tumour immune microenvironment and regulating immune evasion. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:42. [PMID: 36859310 PMCID: PMC9976403 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01704-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is the most universal internal modification in eukaryotic mRNA. With elaborate functions executed by m6A writers, erasers, and readers, m6A modulation is involved in myriad physiological and pathological processes. Extensive studies have demonstrated m6A modulation in diverse tumours, with effects on tumorigenesis, metastasis, and resistance. Recent evidence has revealed an emerging role of m6A modulation in tumour immunoregulation, and divergent m6A methylation patterns have been revealed in the tumour microenvironment. To depict the regulatory role of m6A methylation in the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) and its effect on immune evasion, this review focuses on the TIME, which is characterized by hypoxia, metabolic reprogramming, acidity, and immunosuppression, and outlines the m6A-regulated TIME and immune evasion under divergent stimuli. Furthermore, m6A modulation patterns in anti-tumour immune cells are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Cao
- grid.415954.80000 0004 1771 3349Institute of Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qishun Geng
- grid.415954.80000 0004 1771 3349Institute of Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Danping Fan
- grid.410318.f0000 0004 0632 3409Beijing Key Laboratory of Research of Chinese Medicine on Prevention and Treatment for Major Diseases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- grid.24695.3c0000 0001 1431 9176China-Japan Friendship Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Wang
- grid.24695.3c0000 0001 1431 9176China-Japan Friendship Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Mengxiao Zhang
- grid.415954.80000 0004 1771 3349Institute of Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Zhao
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XChina-Japan Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Jiao
- grid.24695.3c0000 0001 1431 9176China-Japan Friendship Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Deng
- grid.415954.80000 0004 1771 3349Institute of Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Honglin Liu
- grid.415954.80000 0004 1771 3349Institute of Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi China
| | - Liqun Jia
- Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Cheng Xiao
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China. .,Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. .,Department of Emergency, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
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67
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Yu W, Lin J, Yu T, Lou J, Qian C, Xu A, Liu B, Tao H, Jin L. The regulation of N6-methyladenosine modification in PD-L1-induced anti-tumor immunity. Immunol Cell Biol 2023; 101:204-215. [PMID: 36630591 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) has exciting therapeutic efficacy in hematological malignancy and partial solid tumors. However, many patients still face failure with the treatment of immune checkpoint blockade because of PD-L1 expression regulation during transcription and post-transcription processes, including N6-methyladenosine (m6A). Similar to the epigenetic regulation in DNA and histones, recent research has revealed the essential regulation of m6A modification in RNA nuclear export, metabolism and translation. Recent studies have shown that m6A-induced PD-L1 expression emerges as one of the main reasons for the immunological alteration in this process and contributes to the failure of T cell-induced anti-tumor immunity. The results of preclinical studies demonstrate the potential of m6A-targeted therapy in combination with immune checkpoint blockade. The comprehensive expression of m6A-related genes also provided the possibility to indicate the prognosis and to optimize the treatment for patients of various cancer types. In this review, we focus on the m6A modification in PD-L1 mRNA as well as the regulation of PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and summarize its clinical value in anti-PD-L1 cancer immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinti Lin
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tao Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianan Lou
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Qian
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ankai Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huimin Tao
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Libin Jin
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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68
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Luo P, Li S, Long X. N6-methyladenosine RNA modification in PD-1/PD-L1: Novel implications for immunotherapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188873. [PMID: 36842764 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has been shown to achieve significant antitumor effects in a variety of malignancies. Out of all the immune checkpoint molecules, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy has achieved great success. However, only some cancer patients benefit from this treatment strategy owing to drug resistance. Therefore, identifying the underlying modulators of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway to completely comprehend the mechanisms of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment is crucially important. Recent research has validated that m6A modification plays a critical role in the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, thus regulating the immune response and immunotherapy strategies. In this review, we summarized the latest research on the regulation of m6A modification in PD-1/PD-L1 pathways in cancer proliferation, invasion, and prognosis based on different kinds of cancers and discussed the possible mechanisms. We also reviewed m6A-associated lncRNAs in the regulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. More importantly, we outlined the influence of m6A modulation on anti-PD-1 therapy and m6A-related molecules that could predict the curative effect of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Further studies exploring the definitive regulation of m6A on the PD1/PD-1 pathway and immunotherapy are needed, which may address some of the current limitations in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Luo
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shiqi Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinghua Long
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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69
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Roles of RNA Methylations in Cancer Progression, Autophagy, and Anticancer Drug Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044225. [PMID: 36835633 PMCID: PMC9959100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA methylations play critical roles in RNA processes, including RNA splicing, nuclear export, nonsense-mediated RNA decay, and translation. Regulators of RNA methylations have been shown to be differentially expressed between tumor tissues/cancer cells and adjacent tissues/normal cells. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification of RNAs in eukaryotes. m6A regulators include m6A writers, m6A demethylases, and m6A binding proteins. Since m6A regulators play important roles in regulating the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, targeting m6A regulators can be a strategy for developing anticancer drugs. Anticancer drugs targeting m6A regulators are in clinical trials. m6A regulator-targeting drugs could enhance the anticancer effects of current chemotherapy drugs. This review summarizes the roles of m6A regulators in cancer initiation and progression, autophagy, and anticancer drug resistance. The review also discusses the relationship between autophagy and anticancer drug resistance, the effect of high levels of m6A on autophagy and the potential values of m6A regulators as diagnostic markers and anticancer therapeutic targets.
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70
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Wang J, Yu H, Dong W, Zhang C, Hu M, Ma W, Jiang X, Li H, Yang P, Xiang D. N6-Methyladenosine-Mediated Up-Regulation of FZD10 Regulates Liver Cancer Stem Cells' Properties and Lenvatinib Resistance Through WNT/β-Catenin and Hippo Signaling Pathways. Gastroenterology 2023; 164:990-1005. [PMID: 36764493 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, but there is a deficiency of early diagnosis biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Drug resistance accounts for most HCC-related deaths, yet the mechanisms underlying drug resistance remain poorly understood. METHODS Expression of Frizzled-10 (FZD10) in liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) was identified by means of RNA sequencing and validated by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. In vitro and in vivo experiments were used to assess the effect of FZD10 on liver CSC expansion and lenvatinib resistance. RNA sequencing, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation, and luciferase report assays were applied to explore the mechanism underlying FZD10-mediated liver CSCs expansion and lenvatinib resistance. RESULTS Activation of FZD10 in liver CSCs was mediated by METTL3-dependent N6-methyladenosine methylation of FZD10 messenger RNA. Functional studies revealed that FZD10 promotes self-renewal, tumorigenicity, and metastasis of liver CSCs via activating β-catenin and YAP1. The FZD10-β-catenin/YAP1 axis is activated in liver CSCs and predicts poor prognosis. Moreover, FZD10-β-catenin/c-Jun axis transcriptionally activates METTL3 expression, forming a positive feedback loop. Importantly, the FZD10/β-catenin/c-Jun/MEK/ERK axis determines the responses of hepatoma cells to lenvatinib treatment. Analysis of patient cohort, patient-derived tumor organoids, and patient-derived xenografts further suggest that FZD10 might predict lenvatinib clinical benefit in patients with HCC. Furthermore, treatment of lenvatinib-resistant HCC with adeno-associated virus targeting FZD10 or a β-catenin inhibitor restored lenvatinib response. CONCLUSIONS Elevated FZD10 expression promotes expansion of liver CSCs and lenvatinib resistance, indicating that FZD10 expression is a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for human HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghan Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongming Yu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Department of Pathology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Mingtai Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wencong Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqing Jiang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hengyu Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Pinghua Yang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Daimin Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Lv J, Li K, Yu H, Han J, Zhuang J, Yu R, Cheng Y, Song Q, Bai K, Cao Q, Yang H, Yang X, Lu Q. HNRNPL induced circFAM13B increased bladder cancer immunotherapy sensitivity via inhibiting glycolysis through IGF2BP1/PKM2 pathway. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:41. [PMID: 36747239 PMCID: PMC9901087 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02614-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The response rate to immunotherapy in patients with bladder cancer (BCa) remains relatively low. Considering the stable existence and important functions in tumour metabolism, the role of circRNAs in regulating immune escape and immunotherapy sensitivity is receiving increasing attention. METHODS Circular RNA (circRNA) sequencing was performed on five pairs of BCa samples, and circFAM13B (hsa_circ_0001535) was screened out because of its remarkably low expression in BCa. Further mRNA sequencing was conducted, and the association of circFAM13B with glycolysis process and CD8+ T cell activation was confirmed. The functions of circFAM13B were verified by proliferation assays, glycolysis assays, BCa cells-CD8+ T cell co-culture assays and tumorigenesis experiment among human immune reconstitution NOG mice. Bioinformatic analysis, RNA-protein pull down, mass spectrometry, RNA immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assay and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed to validate the HNRNPL/circFAM13B/IGF2BP1/PKM2 cascade. RESULTS Low expression of circFAM13B was observed in BCa, and it was positively associated with lower tumour stage and better prognosis among patients with BCa. The function of CD8+ T cells was promoted by circFAM13B, and it could attenuate the glycolysis of BCa cells and reverse the acidic tumour microenvironment (TME). The production of granzyme B and IFN-γ was improved, and the immunotherapy (PD-1 antibodies) sensitivity was facilitated by the inhibition of acidic TME. Mechanistically, circFAM13B was competitively bound to the KH3-4 domains of IGF2BP1 and subsequently reduced the binding of IGF2BP1 and PKM2 3'UTR. Thus, the stability of the PKM2 mRNA decreased, and glycolysis-induced acidic TME was inhibited. The generation of circFAM13B was explored by confirming whether heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (HNRNPL) could promote circFAM13B formation via pre-mRNA back-splicing. CONCLUSIONS HNRNPL-induced circFAM13B could repress immune evasion and enhance immunotherapy sensitivity by inhibiting glycolysis and acidic TME in BCa through the novel circFAM13B/IGF2BP1/PKM2 cascade. Therefore, circFAM13B can be used as a biomarker for guiding the immunotherapy among patients with BCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancheng Lv
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Kai Li
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Hao Yu
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Jie Han
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Juntao Zhuang
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Ruixi Yu
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Yidong Cheng
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Qiang Song
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Kexin Bai
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Qiang Cao
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Haiwei Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Qiang Lu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
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Fiorentino F, Menna M, Rotili D, Valente S, Mai A. METTL3 from Target Validation to the First Small-Molecule Inhibitors: A Medicinal Chemistry Journey. J Med Chem 2023; 66:1654-1677. [PMID: 36692498 PMCID: PMC9923689 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
RNA methylation is a critical mechanism for regulating the transcription and translation of specific sequences or for eliminating unnecessary sequences during RNA maturation. METTL3, an RNA methyltransferase that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group to the N6-adenosine of RNA, is one of the key mediators of this process. METTL3 dysregulation may result in the emergence of a variety of diseases ranging from cancer to cardiovascular and neurological disorders beyond contributing to viral infections. Hence, the discovery of METTL3 inhibitors may assist in furthering the understanding of the biological roles of this enzyme, in addition to contributing to the development of novel therapeutics. Through this work, we will examine the existing correlations between METTL3 and diseases. We will also analyze the development, mode of action, pharmacology, and structure-activity relationships of the currently known METTL3 inhibitors. They include both nucleoside and non-nucleoside compounds, with the latter comprising both competitive and allosteric inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Fiorentino
- Department
of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza
University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Menna
- Department
of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza
University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Dante Rotili
- Department
of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza
University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy,
| | - Sergio Valente
- Department
of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza
University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy,
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department
of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza
University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy,Pasteur
Institute, Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Wang H, Tang A, Cui Y, Gong H, Li H. LRPPRC facilitates tumor progression and immune evasion through upregulation of m 6A modification of PD-L1 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1144774. [PMID: 37063837 PMCID: PMC10097877 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1144774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective LRPPRC is a newly discovered N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification reader, which potentially affects hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. PD-L1 in tumor cells is essential for tumor immune evasion. This work investigated the LRPPRC-mediated m6A-modification effect on PD-L1 mRNA and immune escape in HCC. Methods Expression and clinical implication of LRPPRC and PD-L1 were measured in human HCC cohorts. The influence of LRPPRC on malignant behaviors of HCC cells was investigated through in vitro assays and xenograft tumor murine models. The posttranscriptional mechanism of LRPPRC on PD-L1 and anti-tumor immunity was elucidated in HCC cells via RIP, MeRIP-qPCR, RNA stability, immunohistochemical staining, and so forth. Results LRPPRC exhibited the notable upregulated in human HCC tissues, which was in relation to advanced stage and worse overall survival and disease-free survival. Impaired proliferative capacity and G2/M phage arrest were found in LRPPRC-knockout cells, with increased apoptotic level, and attenuated migratory and invasive abilities. In HCC patients and murine models, LRPPRC presented a positive interaction with PD-L1, with negative associations with CD8+, and CD4+ T-cell infiltrations and chemokines CXCL9, and CXCL10. LRPPRC loss downregulated the expression of PD-L1 and its m6A level in HCC cells. Moreover, LRPPRC suppression mitigated tumor growth in murine models and improved anti-tumor immunity and immune infiltration in tumors. Conclusion This work unveiled that LRPPRC may posttranscriptionally upregulate PD-L1 partially with an m6A-dependent manner for heightening mRNA stabilization of PD-L1 and provided a new mechanism for m6A regulator-mediated immunosuppression in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houhong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Bozhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Bozhou, Anhui, China
| | - Amao Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yayun Cui
- Department of Cancer Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital), Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Huihui Gong
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Heng Li
- Department of Comprehensive Surgery, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, West District of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, Anhui, China
- *Correspondence: Heng Li,
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METTL3 promotes glycolysis and cholangiocarcinoma progression by mediating the m6A modification of AKR1B10. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:385. [PMID: 36476503 PMCID: PMC9730622 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02809-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is involved in governing the mechanism of tumor progression. We aimed to excavate the biological role and mechanism of the m6A methyltransferase METTL3 in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). METHODS METTL3 expression was determined by database and tissue microarray analyses. The role of METTL3 in CCA was explored by loss- and gain-of-function experiments. The m6A target of METTL3 was detected by RNA sequencing. The role of AKR1B10 in CCA was explored, and the association between METTL3 and AKR1B10 was confirmed by rescue experiments. RESULT METTL3 expression was upregulated in CCA tissue, and higher METTL3 expression was implicated in poor prognoses in CCA patients. Overexpression of METTL3 facilitated proliferation, migration, invasion, glucose uptake, and lactate production in CCA cells, whereas knockdown of METTL3 had the opposite effects. We further found that METTL3 deficiency inhibited CCA tumor growth in vivo. RNA sequencing and MeRIP-qPCR confirmed that METTL3 enhanced AKR1B10 expression and m6A modification levels. Furthermore, METTL3 directly binds with AKR1B10 at an m6A modification site. A CCA tissue microarray showed that AKR1B10 expression was upregulated in CCA tissue and that silencing AKR1B10 suppressed the malignant phenotype mentioned above in CCA. Notably, knockdown of AKR1B10 rescued the tumor-promoting effects induced by METTL3 overexpression. CONCLUSION Elevated METTL3 expression promotes tumor growth and glycolysis in CCA through m6A modification of AKR1B10, indicating that METTL3 is a potential target for blocking glycolysis for application in CCA therapy.
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3′UTR heterogeneity and cancer progression. Trends Cell Biol 2022:S0962-8924(22)00232-X. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Wang S, Ding B, Wang S, Yan W, Xia Q, Meng D, Xie S, Shen S, Yu B, Liu H, Hu J, Zhang X. Gene signature of m 6A RNA regulators in diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and immune microenvironment for cervical cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17667. [PMID: 36271283 PMCID: PMC9587246 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22211-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Continuing studies imply that m6A RNA modification is involved in the development of cervical cancer (CC), but lack strong support on recurrence and diagnosis prediction. In this research, a comprehensive analysis of 33 m6A regulators was performed to fulfill them. Here, we performed diagnostic and prognosis models and identified key regulators, respectively. Then the CC patients were separated into two clusters in accordance with 33 regulators, and participants in the cluster 1 had a worse prognosis. Subsequently, the m6AScore was calculated to quantify the m6A modification pattern based on regulators and we found that patients in cluster 1 had higher m6AScore. Afterwards, immune microenvironment, cell infiltration, escape analyses and tumor burden mutation analyses were executed, and results showed that m6AScore was correlated with them, but to a limited extent. Interestingly, HLAs and immune checkpoint expression, and immunophenoscore in patients with high-m6AScores were significantly lower than those in the low-m6AScore group. These suggested the m6AScores might be used to predict the feasibility of immunotherapy in patients. Results provided a distinctive perspective on m6A modification and theoretical basis for CC diagnosis, prognosis, clinical treatment strategies, and potential mechanism exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhi Wang
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Bo Ding
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiyuan Wang
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Wenjing Yan
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Qianqian Xia
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Dan Meng
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Shuqian Xie
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Siyuan Shen
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Bingjia Yu
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Haohan Liu
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Jing Hu
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Xing Zhang
- grid.263826.b0000 0004 1761 0489Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009 China
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The Role of m6A Modification and m6A Regulators in Esophageal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14205139. [DOI: 10.3390/cancers14205139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, the most prevalent RNA modification, is involved in all aspects of RNA metabolism, including RNA processing, nuclear export, stability, translation and degradation. Therefore, m6A modification can participate in various physiological functions, such as tissue development, heat shock response, DNA damage response, circadian clock control and even in carcinogenesis through regulating the expression or structure of the gene. The deposition, removal and recognition of m6A are carried out by methyltransferases, demethylases and m6A RNA binding proteins, respectively. Aberrant m6A modification and the dysregulation of m6A regulators play critical roles in the occurrence and development of various cancers. The pathogenesis of esophageal cancer (ESCA) remains unclear and the five-year survival rate of advanced ESCA patients is still dismal. Here, we systematically reviewed the recent studies of m6A modification and m6A regulators in ESCA and comprehensively analyzed the role and possible mechanism of m6A modification and m6A regulators in the occurrence, progression, remedy and prognosis of ESCA. Defining the effect of m6A modification and m6A regulators in ESCA might be helpful for determining the pathogenesis of ESCA and providing some ideas for an early diagnosis, individualized treatment and improved prognosis of ESCA patients.
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m6A RNA methylation regulator-related signatures exhibit good prognosis prediction ability for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16358. [PMID: 36175504 PMCID: PMC9523032 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20873-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has become the sixth most common malignant disease worldwide and is associated with high mortality, with an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Recent studies have demonstrated that aberrantly expressed m6A regulators are involved in multiple biological and pathological processes, including cancers, but the specific mechanisms of m6A regulators in HNSCC are not well elucidated. In this study, we adopted The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-HNSCC database and performed a consensus clustering analysis to classify the HNSCC samples. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was applied to construct an m6A signature-based HNSCC risk prediction model. Cell type identification based on estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) algorithms was adopted to evaluate the immune cell infiltration level in the tumor microenvironment. Based on the expression of m6A regulators in HNSCC, we identified two clusters, cluster 1 (C1) and cluster 2 (C2). C2 showed a better prognosis than C1 and was mainly enriched in the HIPPO, MYC, NOTCH, and NRF signaling pathways. We constructed an m6A signature-based risk score model and classified patients into high- and low-risk score subgroups. The high-risk-score group showed poor clinical characteristics, higher immune infiltration levels, higher chemokine and chemokine receptor expression levels, and lower immune checkpoint gene expression than the low-risk-score subgroup. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis suggests that the m6A signature-based risk score might function as a good prognostic predictor. Our study may provide novel therapeutic clues and help predict the prognosis of HNSCC.
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Song Z, Wang X, Chen F, Chen Q, Liu W, Yang X, Zhu X, Liu X, Wang P. LncRNA MALAT1 regulates METTL3-mediated PD-L1 expression and immune infiltrates in pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1004212. [PMID: 36212476 PMCID: PMC9533337 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1004212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The main methods of treating pancreatic cancer are surgery and chemotherapy, but the treatment efficacy is low with a poor prognosis. Immunotherapy represented by PD-1/PD-L1 has brought a milestone progress in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. However, the unique tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer presents challenges for immunotherapy. In addition, m6A is a common RNA modification and a potential molecular target in tumor therapy. The expression pattern of m6A in pancreatic cancer is still unclear. LncRNAs also play an essential role in pancreatic cancer development and treatment. In this study, we found that some m6A regulators were significantly elevated in pancreatic cancer and associated with the expression of PD-1/PD-L1. Moreover, we observed that METTL3 can increase the expression of PD-L1. Notably, METTL3 positively regulates the expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in pancreatic cancer cells. Strikingly, lncRNA MALAT1 increased the expression of PD-L1 in pancreatic cancer cells. This finding indicated that METTL3 regulated the expression of PD-L1 possibly via targeting lncRNA MALAT1 in pancreatic cancer cells. Lastly, MALAT1 governed the viability of pancreatic cancer cells. Taken together, lncRNA MALAT1 is involved in METTL3-mediated promotion of PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengwei Song
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Xiaoguang Wang
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Qiuli Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodan Yang
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Xun Zhu
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaorong Liu, ; Peter Wang,
| | - Peter Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaorong Liu, ; Peter Wang,
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Lee EH, Kim HT, Chun SY, Chung JW, Choi SH, Lee JN, Kim BS, Yoo ES, Kwon TG, Kim TH, Ha YS. Role of the JNK Pathway in Bladder Cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2022; 15:963-971. [PMID: 36091874 PMCID: PMC9462548 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s374908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer, one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide, is associated with high morbidity and mortality and a poor prognosis. The bladder cancer types include 1) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and 2) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Metastases and chemoresistance in MIBC patients are the leading causes of the high death rate. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is an important factor for the undifferentiated state of cancer cells. JNK belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) family; it is activated by various extracellular stimuli, such as stress, radiation, and growth factors and mediates diverse cellular functions, such as apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation, invasion, and migration by mediating AKT (Ak strain transforming), ATG (Autophagy related), mTOR (Mammalian target of rapamycin), and caspases 3, 8, and 9. This review describes the JNK-related functions, mechanisms, and signaling in bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hye Lee
- Joint Institution of Regenerative Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hyun Tae Kim
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - So Young Chun
- BioMedical Research Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jae-Wook Chung
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Seock Hwan Choi
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jun Nyung Lee
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Bum Soo Kim
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Eun Sang Yoo
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Tae Gyun Kwon
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Tae-Hwan Kim
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yun-Sok Ha
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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Duan Q, Hu T, Zhu Q, Jin X, Chi F, Chen X. How far are the new wave of mRNA drugs from us? mRNA product current perspective and future development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:974433. [PMID: 36172353 PMCID: PMC9510989 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.974433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
mRNA products are therapies that are regulated from the post-transcriptional, pre-translational stage of a gene and act upstream of protein synthesis. Compared with traditional small molecule drugs and antibody drugs, mRNA drugs had the advantages of simple design, short development cycle, strong target specificity, wide therapeutic field, and long-lasting effect. mRNA drugs were now widely used in the treatment of genetic diseases, tumors, and viral infections, and are expected to become the third major class of drugs after small molecule drugs and antibody drugs. The delivery system technology was the key to ensuring the efficacy and safety of mRNA drugs, which plays an important role in protecting RNA structure, enhancing targeting ability, reducing the dose of drug delivery, and reducing toxic side effects. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) were the most common delivery system for mRNA drugs. In recent years, mRNA drugs have seen rapid development, with the number of drugs on the market increasing each year. The success of commercializing mRNA vaccines has driven a wave of nucleic acid drug development. mRNA drugs were clinically used in genetic diseases, oncology, and infectious diseases worldwide, while domestic mRNA clinical development was focused on COVID-19 vaccines, with more scope for future indication expansion.
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Xu Z, Chen Q, Shu L, Zhang C, Liu W, Wang P. Expression profiles of m6A RNA methylation regulators, PD-L1 and immune infiltrates in gastric cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:970367. [PMID: 36003776 PMCID: PMC9393729 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.970367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer and has a high death rate. Immunotherapy represented by PD-1 has brought hope for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Methylation of the m6A genes is linked to the onset and progression of numerous cancers, but there are few studies on gastric cancer. The main purpose of this study aims to analyze the relationship between m6A RNA methylation regulators, PD-L1, prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in gastric cancer. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases were used to acquire transcriptomic data and clinical information from gastric cancer patients. The changes in m6A regulator expression levels in gastric cancer tissues and normal tissues were studied. Consensus clustering analysis was used to separate gastric cancer samples into two categories. We employed Least Absolute Shrinkage, Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and cBioPortal to analyze the m6A regulators, PD-L1 and TIME in gastric cancer. In gastric cancer tissues, the majority of m6A regulatory factors are considerably overexpressed. Two gastric cancer subgroups (Cluster1/2) based on consensus clustering of 21 m6A regulators. PD-L1 and PD-1 expression levels were significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues, and they were significantly linked with METTL3, WTAP, HNRNPD, ZC3H7B, METTL14, FTO, PCIF1, HNRNPC, YTHDF1 and YTDHF2. Cluster1 showed a large increase in resting memory CD4+ T cells, regulatory T cells, naïve B cells, active NK cells, and resting Mast cells. Cluster1 and Cluster2 were shown to be involved in numerous critical signaling pathways, including base excision repair, cell cycle, nucleotide excision repair, RNA degradation, and spliceosome pathways. Gastric cancer RiskScores based on prognostic factors have been found as independent prognostic indicators. The amount of tumor-infiltrating immune cells is dynamically affected by changes in the copy number of m6A methylation regulators associated with TIME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Xu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, the Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institutes of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiyuan Xu, ; Peter Wang,
| | - Qiuli Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lilu Shu
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chunye Zhang
- National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peter Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiyuan Xu, ; Peter Wang,
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