The N6-methyladenosine RNA modification in acute myeloid leukemia

Exosome-Shuttled METTL14 From AML-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes the Proliferation and Radioresistance in AML Cells by Stabilizing ROCK1 Expression via an m6A-IGF2BP3-Dependent Mechanism

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (AML-MSCs) have been identified to play a significant role in AML progression. The functions of MSCs mainly depend on their paracrine action. Here, we investigated whether AML-MSCs functioned in AML cells by transferring METTL14 (Methyltransferase 14) into AML cells via exosomes. Functional analyses were conducted using MTT assay, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine assay and flow cytometry. qRT-PCR and western blot analyses detected levels of mRNAs and proteins. Exosomes (exo) were isolated from AML-MSCs by ultracentrifugation. The m6A modification profile was determined by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) assay. The interaction between Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) and Rho Kinase 1 (ROCK1) was validated using RIP assay. AML-MSCs incubation promoted the proliferation and radioresistance in AML cells. Moreover, AML-MSCs incubation led to increases in m6A levels and METTL14 levels in AML cells. METTL14 was transferred into AML cells by packaging into exosomes of AML-MSCs. The knockdown of METTL14 in AML-MSCs exosomes could reduce the proliferation and radioresistance in AML cells. Mechanistically, METTL14 induced ROCK1 m6A modification and stabilized its expression by an m6A-IGF2BP3-dependent mechanism. Rescue assay showed that ROCK1 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effects of METTL14 silencing in AML-MSCs exosomes on AML cell proliferation and radioresistance. Exosome-shuttled METTL14 from AML-MSCs promoted proliferation and conferred radioresistance in AML cells by stabilizing ROCK1 expression via an m6A-IGF2BP3-dependent mechanism.

Discovery, Optimization, and Preclinical Pharmacology of EP652, a METTL3 Inhibitor with Efficacy in Liquid and Solid Tumor Models

METTL3 is the RNA methyltransferase predominantly responsible for the addition of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant modification to mRNA. The prevalence of m6A and the activity and expression of METTL3 have been linked to the appearance and progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), thereby making METTL3 an attractive target for cancer therapeutics. We report herein the discovery and optimization of small-molecule inhibitors of METTL3, culminating in the selection of EP652 as an in vivo proof-of-concept compound. EP652 potently inhibits the enzymatic activity of METTL3, has favorable PK parameters, and demonstrates efficacy in preclinical oncology models, indicating that pharmacological inhibition of METTL3 is a viable strategy for the treatment of liquid and solid tumors.

ALKBH5 promotes T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia growth via m6A-guided epigenetic inhibition of miR-20a-5p

This study investigates the role of ALKBH5-mediated m6A demethylation in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). T-ALL cell lines (HPB-ALL, MOLT4, Jurkat, CCRF-CEM) and human T cells were analyzed. CCRF-CEM and Jurkat cells were transfected with si-ALKBH5, miR-20a-5p-inhibitor, and pcDNA3.1-DDX5. The expression levels of ALKBH5, miR-20a-5p, and DDX5 in these cells were determined using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Cell viability, proliferation, colony formation, and apoptosis were assessed using CCK-8, EdU staining, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry. mRNA m6A levels were quantified with an m6A RNA methylation detection reagent, and RNA immunoprecipitation was employed to measure the enrichment of DGCR8 and m6A on the primary transcript pri-miR-20a of miR-20a-5p. Dual-luciferase assay confirmed the binding relationship between miR-20a-5p and DDX5. Results showed that ALKBH5 and DDX5 were upregulated in T-ALL tissues and cells, whereas miR-20a-5p was downregulated. Silencing ALKBH5 inhibited T-ALL cell viability, colony formation, and proliferation, while promoting apoptosis. These effects were reversed by miR-20a-5p inhibition or DDX5 overexpression. ALKBH5 reduced the relative m6A level in T-ALL cells and decreased miR-20a-5p expression by reducing DGCR8 binding to pri-miR-20a-5p. miR-20a-5p suppressed DDX5 transcription. In conclusion, ALKBH5-mediated m6A demethylation decreases DGCR8 binding to pri-miR-20a, thereby repressing miR-20a-5p expression and enhancing DDX5 expression, ultimately inhibiting T-ALL cell apoptosis and promoting proliferation.

Cancer Stem Cells: Biology and Therapeutic Implications

It is well recognized that most cancers derive and progress from transformation and clonal expansion of a single cell that possesses stem cell properties, i.e., self-renewal and multilineage differentiation capacities. Such cancer stem cells (CSCs) are usually present at very low frequencies and possess properties that make them key players in tumor development. Indeed, besides having the ability to initiate tumor growth, CSCs drive tumor progression and metastatic dissemination, are resistant to most cancer drugs, and are responsible for cancer relapse. All of these features make CSCs attractive targets for the development of more effective oncologic treatments. In the present review article, we have summarized recent advances in the biology of CSCs, including their identification through their immunophenotype, and their physiology, both in vivo and in vitro. We have also analyzed some molecular markers that might become targets for developing new therapies aiming at hampering CSCs regeneration and cancer relapse.

N6-methyladenosine-modified HOTAIRM1 promotes vasculogenic mimicry formation in glioma

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) has been reported to accelerate angiogenesis in malignant tumors, yet the mechanism underlying VM has not been fully elucidated. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mainly modulates mRNA fate and affects multiple tumorigenesis. Here, we aimed to investigate m6A-modified HOXA transcript antisense RNA myeloid-specific 1 (HOTAIRM1) in the regulation of glioma-associated VM formation. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Cell viability, metastases, and VM formation capacity were determined by CCK-8, migration and invasion, as well as tube formation assays, respectively. The function and mechanisms of m6A-modified HOTAIRM1 were defined through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry m6A quantification, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, RNA stability assays, and RNA pull-down experiments. A glioma xenograft mouse model was further established for VM evaluation in vivo. The results showed that HOTAIRM1, methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) were upregulated in glioma tissues and cell lines. HOTAIRM1 functions as an oncogene in glioma progression; however, knockdown of HOTAIRM1 significantly reduced cell viability, migration, invasion, and VM formation. Notably, METTL3-dependent m6A modification enhanced HOTAIRM1 mRNA stability, whereas knockdown of METTL3 deficiency significantly suppressed VM in glioma. Moreover, HOTAIRM1 was found to bind IGFBP2, and HOTAIRM1 deficiency blocked glioma progression and VM formation in vivo. Our results indicated that METTL3-dependent m6A-modified HOTAIRM1 promoted VM formation in glioma.

MicroRNA-1306-5p Regulates the METTL14-Guided m6A Methylation to Repress Acute Myeloid Leukemia

miRNA and m6A methylation are two key regulators in cancers. However, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the relationship of miRNA and m6A methylation remains unclear. The present work is aimed at determining the effect of m6A methylation induced by miRNAs on AML and its underlying mechanism. The expression of METTL14 was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The growth of HL-60 cells was analyzed by CCK-8, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Tumor-bearing mice were established, and Ki-67 staining assay was used to detect the proliferation in vivo. Dual luciferase reporter system detected the effect of miR-1306-5p on METTL14 luciferase activity. Dot blot analysis detected m6A methylation. We found that METTL14 was upregulated in AML patients and overexpressed METTL14 promoted AML development. Further analysis indicated that METTL14 was directly targeted by miR-1306-5p and overexpressed miR-1306-5p alleviated AML progression. In addition, m6A methylation level regulated by METTL14 could be affected by miR-1306-5p. In conclusion, we found that suppressed miR-1306-5p enhanced AML progression by elevating m6A methylation level via upregulating METTL14. These findings provided basis for the development of new strategies for treating AML.

Inhibition of the m6A reader IGF2BP2 as a strategy against T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignant leukemia with extremely limited treatment for relapsed patients. N6‐methyladenosine (m⁶A) reader insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) participates in the initiation and growth of cancers by communicating with various targets. Here, we found IGF2BP2 was highly expressed in T-ALL. Gain and loss of IGF2BP2 demonstrated IGF2BP2 was essential for T-ALL cell proliferation in vitro and loss of IGF2BP2 prolonged animal survival in a human T-ALL xenograft model. Mechanistically, IGF2BP2 directly bound to T-ALL oncogene NOTCH1 via an m⁶A dependent manner. Furthermore, we identified a small-molecule IGF2BP2 inhibitor JX5 and treatment of T-ALL with JX5 showed similar functions as knockdown of IGF2BP2. These findings not only shed light on the role of IGF2BP2 in T-ALL, but also provide an alternative γ‑Secretase inhibitors (GSI) therapy to treat T-ALL.

Properties of Leukemic Stem Cells in Regulating Drug Resistance in Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemias

Notoriously known for their capacity to reconstitute hematological malignancies in vivo, leukemic stem cells (LSCs) represent key drivers of therapeutic resistance and disease relapse, posing as a major medical dilemma. Despite having low abundance in the bulk leukemic population, LSCs have developed unique molecular dependencies and intricate signaling networks to enable self-renewal, quiescence, and drug resistance. To illustrate the multi-dimensional landscape of LSC-mediated leukemogenesis, in this review, we present phenotypical characteristics of LSCs, address the LSC-associated leukemic stromal microenvironment, highlight molecular aberrations that occur in the transcriptome, epigenome, proteome, and metabolome of LSCs, and showcase promising novel therapeutic strategies that potentially target the molecular vulnerabilities of LSCs.

Transcriptome-Wide Analysis of RNA N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Adriamycin-Resistant Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most aggressive hematopoietic malignancies. Patients still suffer from refractory/relapsed disease after anthracycline-based therapy, which leads to a poor prognosis. N⁶-Methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most abundant post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotes, the imbalance of which is reported to be associated with various pathological processes, including drug resistance. However, the relationship between m⁶A modification and drug resistance has not been well defined in AML. In this study, we analyzed the sequencing data of HL60 and its Adriamycin-resistant cell line HL60/ADR. We found a total of 40,550 m⁶A-methylated peaks, representing 15,640 genes in HL60, and 38,834 m⁶A-methylated peaks, representing 15,285 genes in HL60/ADR. KEGG pathway analysis showed that pathways were enriched in the FoxO signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, and Notch signaling pathway. MeRIP-seq results showed that the fold enrichment of the global m⁶A level in HL60/ADR was higher than that in HL60, and dot blot assay results indicated that the global m⁶A level was elevated in HL60/ADR cells compared with that in HL60 cells. Further analysis revealed that the expression level of METTL3 was elevated in HL60/ADR cells compared with that in HL60 cells. After a combined treatment of STM2457 (an inhibitor of METTL3) and Adriamycin, the proliferation of HL60/ADR was inhibited. Thus, we hypothesized that the abnormality of m⁶A modification played an important role in Adriamycin-resistant AML.

FTO promotes Bortezomib resistance via m6A-dependent destabilization of SOD2 expression in multiple myeloma

Drug resistance is the main reason for the failure of Bortezomib (Bort) in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), which seriously affects the efficacy of Bort. Therefore, the exploration of Bort resistance to treat MM will be very beneficial. Thus, this study aims to study the function and mechanism of Fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) on the Bort resistance of MM. In the present study, we demonstrated that FTO promotes Bort resistance via m6A-dependent destabilization of SOD2 expression in MM. These findings may provide a substantial evidence for the Bort resistance in MM.

New insight into the catalytic -dependent and -independent roles of METTL3 in sustaining aberrant translation in chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm caused by the presence of tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL1 fusion protein, which deregulate transcription and mRNA translation. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the first-choice treatment. However, resistance to TKIs remains a challenge to cure CML patients. Here, we reveal that the m⁶A methyltransferase complex METTL3/METTL14 is upregulated in CML patients and that is required for proliferation of primary CML cells and CML cell lines sensitive and resistant to the TKI imatinib. We demonstrate that depletion of METTL3 strongly impairs global translation efficiency. In particular, our data show that METTL3 is crucial for the expression of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis and translation. Specifically, we found that METTL3 directly regulates the level of PES1 protein identified as an oncogene in several tumors. We propose a model in which nuclear METTL3/METTL14 methyltransferase complex modified nascent transcripts whose translation is enhanced by cytoplasmic localization of METTL3, independently from its catalytic activity. In conclusion, our results point to METTL3 as a novel relevant oncogene in CML and as a promising therapeutic target for TKI resistant CML.

The Biological Function, Mechanism, and Clinical Significance of m6A RNA Modifications in Head and Neck Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its onset and development have not yet been fully elucidated. Indeed, an in-depth understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms underlying HNSCC oncogenesis may aid the development of better treatment strategies. Recent epigenetic studies have revealed that the m6A RNA modification plays important roles in HNSCC. In this review, we summarize the role of m6A modification in various types of HNSCC, including thyroid, nasopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal squamous cell, and oral carcinoma. In addition, we discuss the regulatory roles of m6A in immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, as well as the potential molecular mechanisms. Finally, we review the development of potential targets for treating cancer based on the regulatory functions of m6A, with an aim to improving targeted therapies for HNSCC. Together, this review highlights the important roles that m6A modification plays in RNA synthesis, transport, and translation, and demonstrates that the regulation of m6A-related proteins can indirectly affect mRNA and ncRNA function, thus providing a novel strategy for reengineering intrinsic cell activity and developing simpler interventions to treat HNSCC.

Regulation of Ribosome Function by RNA Modifications in Hematopoietic Development and Leukemia: It Is Not Only a Matter of m6A

Growth and maturation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are largely controlled at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In particular, hematopoietic development requires a tight control of protein synthesis. Furthermore, translational deregulation strongly contributes to hematopoietic malignancies. Researchers have recently identified a new layer of gene expression regulation that consists of chemical modification of RNA species, which led to the birth of the epitranscriptomics field. RNA modifications provide an additional level of control in hematopoietic development by acting as post-transcriptional regulators of lineage-specific genetic programs. Other reviews have already described the important role of the N⁶-methylation of adenosine (m⁶A) within mRNA species in regulating hematopoietic differentiation and diseases. The aim of this review is to summarize the current status of the role of RNA modifications in the regulation of ribosome function, beyond m⁶A. In particular, we discuss the importance of RNA modifications in tRNA and rRNA molecules. By balancing translational rate and fidelity, they play an important role in regulating normal and malignant hematopoietic development.