N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader IGF2BP1 accelerates gastric cancer aerobic glycolysis in c-Myc-dependent manner

ZC3H13 knockdown enhances the inhibitory effect of sevoflurane on gastric cancer cell malignancy by regulating the N6-methyladenosine modification of the lncRNA DLX6-AS1

Sevoflurane, an inhalation anesthetic, has been shown to suppress cancer development. In this study, we investigated the specific mechanisms involving sevoflurane, zinc-finger CCCH-type containing 13 (ZC3H13), and lncRNA DLX6-AS1 in gastric cancer (GC) progression, focusing on the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analyses to measure the levels of ZC3H13 and lncRNA DLX6-AS1 in GC tissues and cells. Furthermore, we conducted Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, Transwell, and tumor xenograft assays to evaluate changes in GC cell malignancy following cell transfection and sevoflurane treatment. Additionally, actinomycin D, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation, and qRT-PCR assays were performed to examine the regulatory effects of ZC3H13 on the DLX6-AS1 m6A modification. We detected elevated levels of ZC3H13 in GC samples, while ZC3H13 silencing inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Silencing ZC3H13 also enhanced the inhibitory effects of sevoflurane on GC cell malignancy. Moreover, we found that the increased expression of DLX6-AS1 in GC cells could be suppressed by ZC3H13 through the mediation of the m6A modification of DLX6-AS1, thereby reducing DLX6-AS1 stability. In conclusion, ZC3H13 knockdown enhances the inhibitory effect of sevoflurane on GC cell malignancy by inducing DLX6-AS1 m6A modification. Our findings may help identify potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of GC.

The regulatory mechanism of m6A modification in gastric cancer

To the best of our knowledge, N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) exerts a significant role in the occurrence and development of various tumors. Gastric cancer (GC), originating from the mucosal epithelium in the digestive tract, is the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death around the world. Therefore, it is urgent to explore the specific mechanism of tumorigenesis of GC. As we all know, m6A modification as the most common RNA modification, is involved in the modification of mRNA and ncRNA at the post-transcriptional level, which played a regulatory role in various biological processes. As identified by numerous studies, the m6A modification are able to influence the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of GC. What's more, m6A modification are associated with EMT, drug resistance, and aerobic glycolysis in GC. m6A related-ncRNAs may be a valuable biomarker used by the prediction of GC diagnosis in the future. This review summarizes the role of m6A modification in the mechanism of gastric cancer, with the aim of identifying biological progress.

RNA modifications in cellular metabolism: implications for metabolism-targeted therapy and immunotherapy

Cellular metabolism is an intricate network satisfying bioenergetic and biosynthesis requirements of cells. Relevant studies have been constantly making inroads in our understanding of pathophysiology, and inspiring development of therapeutics. As a crucial component of epigenetics at post-transcription level, RNA modification significantly determines RNA fates, further affecting various biological processes and cellular phenotypes. To be noted, immunometabolism defines the metabolic alterations occur on immune cells in different stages and immunological contexts. In this review, we characterize the distribution features, modifying mechanisms and biological functions of 8 RNA modifications, including N6-methyladenosine (m6A), N6,2'-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am), N1-methyladenosine (m1A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), N4-acetylcytosine (ac4C), N7-methylguanosine (m7G), Pseudouridine (Ψ), adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing, which are relatively the most studied types. Then regulatory roles of these RNA modification on metabolism in diverse health and disease contexts are comprehensively described, categorized as glucose, lipid, amino acid, and mitochondrial metabolism. And we highlight the regulation of RNA modifications on immunometabolism, further influencing immune responses. Above all, we provide a thorough discussion about clinical implications of RNA modification in metabolism-targeted therapy and immunotherapy, progression of RNA modification-targeted agents, and its potential in RNA-targeted therapeutics. Eventually, we give legitimate perspectives for future researches in this field from methodological requirements, mechanistic insights, to therapeutic applications.

m6A-modified circARHGAP12 promotes the aerobic glycolysis of doxorubicin-resistance osteosarcoma by targeting c-Myc

Chemotherapy resistance accompanied by energy metabolism abnormality functions as one of the main reasons for treatment failure and poor prognosis. However, the function of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified circular RNA (circRNA) on osteosarcoma (OS) is still unclear. Here, present research investigated the potential role and mechanism of circARHGAP12 on OS doxorubicin (Dox) resistance and aerobic glycolysis. Results indicated that circARHGAP12 was a novel m6A-modified circRNA, which was up-regulated in OS cells. Overexpression of circARHGAP12 promoted the Dox resistance half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and aerobic glycolysis (glucose uptake, lactate and ATP production) in OS cells (Saos-2/Dox, MG63/Dox). Mechanistically, m6A-modified circARHGAP12 could bind with c-Myc mRNA through m6A-dependent manner, thereby enhancing the c-Myc mRNA stability. Thus, these findings revealed the critical function of circARHGAP12 on OS Dox-resistance and aerobic glycolysis. Taken together, our study demonstrated a critical function of circARHGAP12 on OS chemotherapy resistance and energy metabolism abnormality, providing critical roles on OS treatment.

Long non-coding RNA linc00659 promotes tumour progression by regulating FZD6/Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in colorectal cancer via m6A reader IGF2BP1

BACKGROUND

Abnormal N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has become a driving factor in tumour development and progression. The linc00659 is abnormally highly expressed in digestive tract tumours and promotes cancer progression, but there is little research on the mechanism of linc00659 and m6A.

METHODS

The expression of linc00659 in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and cells was assessed by a quantitative real-time PCR. The proliferative capacity of CRC cells was determined by colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2 deoxyuridine assays, and the migratory capacity of CRC was determined by wound healing and transwell assays and tube formation. In vivo, a xenograft tumour model was used to detect the effect of linc00659 on tumour growth. The Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway and related protein expression levels were measured by western blotting. The binding of linc00659 to insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) was assessed by RNA pull-down and an immunoprecipitation assay. The effect of IGF2BP1 on FZD6 was detected by an RNA stability assay.

RESULTS

The expression of linc00659 was abnormally elevated in CRC tissues and cells compared to normal colonic tissues and cells. We confirm that linc00659 promotes the growth of CRC cells both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, linc00659 binds to IGF2BP1 and specifically enhances its activity to stabilize the target gene FZD6. Therefore, linc00659 and IGF2BP1 activate the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, promoting cell proliferation in CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that linc00659 and IGF2BP1 cooperate to promote the stability of the target FZD6 mRNA, thereby facilitating CRC progression, which may represent a potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic target for CRC.

RNA m6A modifications regulate crosstalk between tumor metabolism and immunity

In recent years, m6A modifications in RNA transcripts have arisen as a hot topic in cancer research. Indeed, a number of independent studies have elaborated that the m6A modification impacts the behavior of tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, altering tumor cell metabolism along with the differentiation and functional activity of immune cells. This review elaborates on the links between RNA m6A modifications, tumor cell metabolism, and immune cell behavior, discussing this topic from the viewpoint of reciprocal regulation through "RNA m6A-tumor cell metabolism-immune cell behavior" and "RNA m6A-immune cell behavior-tumor cell metabolism" axes. In addition, we discuss the various factors affecting RNA m6A modifications in the tumor microenvironment, particularly the effects of hypoxia associated with cancer cell metabolism along with immune cell-secreted cytokines. Our analysis proposes the conclusion that RNA m6A modifications support widespread interactions between tumor metabolism and tumor immunity. With the current viewpoint that long-term cancer control must tackle cancer cell malignant behavior while strengthening anti-tumor immunity, the recognition of RNA m6A modifications as a key factor provides a new direction for the targeted therapy of tumors. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.

The m6A reader IGF2BP1 manipulates BUB1B expression to affect malignant behaviors, stem cell properties, and immune resistance of non-small-cell lung cancer stem cells

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most common internal modification in eukaryotic mRNA and an important mechanism for post-transcriptional regulation of genes. This study focuses on the role of the m6A reader insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) in the malignant behaviors of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and especially the cancer stem cells (CSCs). We obtained IGF2BP1 as an aberrantly upregulated gene linking to poor survival of patients with NSCLC by bioinformatics, and then confirmed increased IGF2BP1 expression in NSCLC tissues and cells, especially in the enriched CSCs. Knockdown of IGF2BP1 suppressed proliferation, mobility and epithelial-mesenchymal transition activity of NSCLC cells and CSCs, and it reduced stemness, self-renewal ability, xenograft tumorigenesis and immune resistance of the CSCs. IGF2BP1 was predicted to have a positive correlation with BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase B (BUB1B), and it upregulated BUB1B expression through m6A modification. Further overexpression of BUB1B in CSCs counteracted the effects of IGF2BP1 silencing and restored the malignant phenotype, self-renewal, and immune resistance of CSCs in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, this work demonstrates that IGF2BP1 manipulates BUB1B expression to affect malignant behaviors, stem cell properties and immune resistance of NSCLC stem cells.

m6A-regulated tumor glycolysis: new advances in epigenetics and metabolism

Glycolytic reprogramming is one of the most important features of cancer and plays an integral role in the progression of cancer. In cancer cells, changes in glucose metabolism meet the needs of self-proliferation, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, metastasis, and also affect the immune escape, prognosis evaluation and therapeutic effect of cancer. The n6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA is widespread in eukaryotic cells. Dynamic and reversible m6A modifications are widely involved in the regulation of cancer stem cell renewal and differentiation, tumor therapy resistance, tumor microenvironment, tumor immune escape, and tumor metabolism. Lately, more and more evidences show that m6A modification can affect the glycolysis process of tumors in a variety of ways to regulate the biological behavior of tumors. In this review, we discussed the role of glycolysis in tumor genesis and development, and elaborated in detail the profound impact of m6A modification on different tumor by regulating glycolysis. We believe that m6A modified glycolysis has great significance and potential for tumor treatment.

Role of N6-methyladenosine RNA modification in gastric cancer

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is the most prevalent internal modification of mammalian messenger RNA. The m6A modification affects multiple aspects of RNA metabolism, including processing, splicing, export, stability, and translation through the reversible regulation of methyltransferases (Writers), demethylases (Erasers), and recognition binding proteins (Readers). Accumulating evidence indicates that altered m6A levels are associated with a variety of human cancers. Recently, dysregulation of m6A methylation was shown to be involved in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer (GC) through various pathways. Thus, elucidating the relationship between m6A and the pathogenesis of GC has important clinical implications for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of GC patients. In this review, we evaluate the potential role and clinical significance of m6A-related proteins which function in GC in an m6A-dependent manner. We discuss current issues regarding m6A-targeted inhibition of GC, explore new methods for GC diagnosis and prognosis, consider new targets for GC treatment, and provide a reasonable outlook for the future of GC research.

Functions of N6-methyladenosine in cancer metabolism: from mechanism to targeted therapy

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification of eukaryotic mRNA and is involved in almost every stage of RNA metabolism. The m6A modification on RNA has been demonstrated to be a regulator of the occurrence and development of a substantial number of diseases, especially cancers. Increasing evidence has shown that metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer and is crucial for maintaining the homeostasis of malignant tumors. Cancer cells rely on altered metabolic pathways to support their growth, proliferation, invasion and metastasis in an extreme microenvironment. m6A regulates metabolic pathways mainly by either directly acting on metabolic enzymes and transporters or indirectly influencing metabolism-related molecules. This review discusses the functions of the m6A modification on RNAs, its role in cancer cell metabolic pathways, the possible underlying mechanisms of its effects and the implication of this modification in cancer therapy.

The Epigenetic Regulation of RNA N6-Methyladenosine Methylation in Glycolipid Metabolism

The highly conserved and dynamically reversible N6-methyladenine (m6A) modification has emerged as a critical gene expression regulator by affecting RNA splicing, translation efficiency, and stability at the post-transcriptional level, which has been established to be involved in various physiological and pathological processes, including glycolipid metabolism and the development of glycolipid metabolic disease (GLMD). Hence, accumulating studies have focused on the effects and regulatory mechanisms of m6A modification on glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and GLMD. This review summarizes the underlying mechanism of how m6A modification regulates glucose and lipid metabolism-related enzymes, transcription factors, and signaling pathways and the advances of m6A regulatory mechanisms in GLMD in order to deepen the understanding of the association of m6A modification with glycolipid metabolism and GLMD.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader IGF2BP1 facilitates clear-cell renal cell carcinoma aerobic glycolysis

Emerging articles have reported that N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification is mainly involved in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumorigenesis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of m⁶A reader IGF2BP1 involved in ccRCC tumor energy metabolism are currently unknown. Results showed that the m⁶A reader IGF2BP1 exhibited significantly higher expression in ccRCC cells. Functionally, results by gain/loss functional assays indicated that IGF2BP1 promoted the glycolytic characteristics, including glucose uptake, lactate production and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Mechanistically, IGF2BP1 recognized the m⁶A modified sites on LDHA mRNA and enhanced its mRNA stability, thereby accelerating tumor energy metabolism. Thus, our work reveals a novel facet of the m⁶A that promoted mRNA stability and highlighted the functional importance of IGF2BP1 as m⁶A readers in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

New roles of N6-methyladenosine methylation system regulating the occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with N6-methyladenosine-modified MYC

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major chronic disease in contemporary society, affected by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, one of the most common RNA modifications. Compared with healthy control, m6A RNA methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) and METTL14 increased, while Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) and RNA-binding motif protein 15 (RBM15) decreased significantly in NAFLD, and the m6A demethylases fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) elevated. Meanwhile, the m6A binding proteins, YT521-B homology (YTH) domain-containing 1 (YTHDC1), YTHDC2, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC), and HNRNPA2B1 were decreased, while eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit H (EIF3H) was increased significantly. All these changes of m6A regulators had significant differences between healthy control and NAFLD, but no differences between the NAFL and NASH group. The expression level of RBM15, HNRNPC, and HNRNPA2B1 were related to body fat index. RBM15, YTHDC2, HNRNPC, HNRNPA2B1, and EIF3H were related to steatosis. Also, KIAA1429 and YTH domain family 1 (YTHDF1) were related to lobular inflammation. Taken together, m6A regulators were involved in the occurrence of NAFLD. More importantly, abnormal MYC was determined as a key link to m6A regulation of NAFLD. The higher MYC mRNA level was accompanied by higher HDL cholesterol and unsaturated fatty acid proportions, as well as lower fat mass, glucose, and transaminase. Taken together, dysregulation of m6A methylation caused steatosis and fibrosis, affecting the occurrence of NAFLD, and MYC might be its potential target.