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Yang K, Zhong Z, Zou J, Liao JY, Chen S, Zhou S, Zhao Y, Li J, Yin D, Huang K, Li Y. Glycolysis and tumor progression promoted by the m 6A writer VIRMA via m 6A-dependent upregulation of STRA6 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Lett 2024; 590:216840. [PMID: 38604311 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies, highlighting the urgent need to elucidate the underlying oncogenic mechanisms. VIRMA is a classic isoform of methyltransferases that participates in epigenetic transcriptomic modification in eukaryotic mRNAs. However, the exact roles of VIRMA in PDAC remain unclear. Here, we identified that VIRMA is highly expressed in PDAC, and histone modifications of the promoter may partly account for this dysregulation. Moreover, VIRMA is closely related to glycolysis and poor prognosis in PDAC. We further determined that STRA6 is a direct downstream target of VIRMA in PDAC by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and m6A sequencing (m6A-seq). VIRMA is involved in gene expression regulation via 3' UTR targeting of STRA6 mRNA. Furthermore, the m6A reader IGF2BP2 was shown to critically contribute to the stability of STRA6 mRNA. We describe the role of VIRMA in promoting signaling via the STRA6/STAT3 axis, which results in increased levels of HIF-1α, a key activator of glycolysis. In vivo and in vitro experiments reveal that the VIRMA-STRA6-STAT3-HIF-1α axis plays an instrumental role in glycolysis and tumor progression in PDAC. In conclusion, we demonstrate that VIRMA can increase glycolysis in PDAC by upregulating STRA6, a cell surface membrane protein that stimulates the STAT3 pathway, thereby activating HIF-1α and leading to pancreatic cancer malignancy. Overall, our data strongly suggest that the VIRMA-STRA6-STAT3-HIF-1α axis is a viable therapeutic target in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kege Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ziyi Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jinmao Zou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jian-You Liao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Research Center of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Shaojie Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Shurui Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jiajia Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Department of Nephrology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. Guangdong, PR China
| | - Dong Yin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Research Center of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
| | - Kaihong Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
| | - Yaqing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
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Hong H, Xu G, Bao G, Zhang J, Chen C, Chen J, Wu C, Jiang J, Huang J, Huang H, Cui Z. VIRMA promotes neuron apoptosis via inducing m6A methylation of STK10 in spinal cord injury animal models. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14453. [PMID: 37721438 PMCID: PMC10916435 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs as a devastating neuropathic disease. The role of serine-threonine kinase 10 (STK10) in the development of SCI remains unclear. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the action of m6A methylation on STK10 in the apoptosis of spinal cord neurons in the pathogenesis of SCI and the possible underlying mechanisms. METHODS Rat model of SCI was established and subsequently evaluated for motor function, pathological conditions, and apoptosis of spinal cord neurons. And the effects of overexpression of STK10 on neuronal cells in animal models of spinal cord injury and glyoxylate deprivation (OGD) cell models were evaluated. m6A2Target database and SRAMP database were used to predict the m6A methylation sites of STK10. The methylation kits were used to detect overall m6A methylation. Finally, the interaction between STK10 and vir like m6A methyltransferase associated (VIRMA) was explored in animal and cellular models. RESULTS STK10 is markedly decreased in spinal cord injury models and overexpression of STK10 inhibits neuronal apoptosis. VIRMA can induce m6A methylation of STK10. VIRMA is over-expressed in spinal cord injury models and negatively regulates the expression of STK10. m6A methylation and apoptosis of neuronal cells are reduced by the knockdown of VIRMA and STK10 shRNA have shown the opposite effects. CONCLUSIONS VIRMA promotes neuronal apoptosis in spinal cord injury by regulating STK10 m6A methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiang Hong
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Guanhua Xu
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
- Research Institute for Spine and Spinal Cord Disease of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Guofeng Bao
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Chu Chen
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Jiajia Chen
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Chunshuai Wu
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Jiawei Jiang
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Jiayi Huang
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Haiming Huang
- Department of UltrasonographyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Zhiming Cui
- Department of Spine SurgeryThe second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
- Research Institute for Spine and Spinal Cord Disease of Nantong UniversityNantongChina
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Chen C, Wang Y, Li Y, Zhang C. VIRMA Facilitates Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression via Increasing m6A-Dependent KIF15 Expression. Discov Med 2023; 35:787-795. [PMID: 37811616 DOI: 10.24976/discov.med.202335178.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vir like N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase associated protein (VIRMA) is associated with various tumors, but the specific role of VIRMA in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the mechanisms are still unclear. Thus, in this study, in addition to the effect of VIRMA on TNBC, the underlying mechanisms were also explored. METHODS In vitro, VIRMA expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot; VIRMA lentiviral overexpression vector (LV-VIRMA) and lentiviral vector connected with the shRNA targeting VIRMA (LV-shVIRMA) were constructed to explore the functional role of VIRMA; RNA immunoprecipitation and qRT-PCR were performed to assess the relationship between VIRMA and kinesin family 15 (KIF15). In vivo, female Balb/C mice (n = 6) were subcutaneously injected with TNBC cells transfected with LV-shRNA + LV-NC (negative control), LV-shVIRMA + LV-NC, and LV-shVIRMA + LV-KIF15, tumor volume, weight and immunohistochemistry staining of Ki-67 were employed to assess breast tumor growth; immunohistochemistry of VIRMA and KIF15 were performed to examine VIRMA and KIF15 expression in breast tumor tissues. RESULTS Compared to normal breast epithelial cells, VIRMA was increased in TNBC cells (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). LV-VIRMA elevated proliferation, metastasis and invasion of TNBC cells in comparison with LV-NC (p < 0.001), while VIRMA knockdown resulted in the opposite effects in comparison with LV-shRNA NC (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). Also, compared to LV-shRNA NC, LV-shVIRMA downregulated KIF15 expression by reducing KIF15 mRNA stability (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), which was dependent on m6A. Furthermore, compared to LV-shVIRMA + LV-NC, LV-shVIRMA + LV-KIF15 not only reversed the reduced proliferation, metastasis and invasion of TNBC cells (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.001), but also reversed the decreased tumor weight and volume (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The above results indicated that VIRMA promoted TNBC progression by upregulating m6A-dependent KIF15 expression, providing a better understanding of the pathogenesis of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunchun Chen
- Department of Oncology Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, 233004 Bengbu, Anhui, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Department of Oncology Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, 233004 Bengbu, Anhui, China
| | - Yulong Li
- Department of Oncology Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, 233004 Bengbu, Anhui, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Oncology Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, 233004 Bengbu, Anhui, China
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Xu H, Lin X, Li Z, He X, Li Y, Qiu L, Lu L, Liu B, Zhan M, He K. VIRMA facilitates intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression through epigenetic augmentation of TMED2 and PARD3B mRNA stabilization. J Gastroenterol 2023; 58:925-944. [PMID: 37391589 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-023-02015-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND N6-methyladenine modification of RNA, a critical component of the regulatory role at the post-transcriptional level, has a crucial effect on tumor development and progression. vir-Like m6A methyltransferase associated (VIRMA) has been recently discovered as an N6-methyladenine methyltransferase; however, its specific role in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains to be investigated in-depth. METHODS VIRMA expression and its association with clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and tissue microarrays. In vivo and in vitro assays were performed to determine the role of VIRMA in ICC proliferation and metastasis. The underlying mechanism by which VIRMA influences ICC was clarified by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq), SLAM sequencing (SLAM-seq), RNA immunoprecipitation, a luciferase reporter assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS VIRMA showed high expression in ICC tissues, and this finding predicted a dismal prognostic outcome. The high expression of VIRMA in ICC was due to the demethylation of H3K27me3 modification in the promoter region. Functionally, VIRMA is required for the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in ICC cells, as shown by multiple ICC models in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Mechanistically, multi-omics analysis using ICC cells demonstrated that TMED2 and PARD3B were the direct downstream target of VIRMA. The methylated TMED2 and PARD3B transcripts were directly recognized by HuR, which exerted stabilizing effects on its bound RNA. VIRMA-induced expression of TMED2 and PARD3B activated the Akt/GSK/β-catenin and MEK/ERK/Slug signaling pathways, thereby promoting ICC proliferation and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that VIRMA plays a critical role in ICC development by stabilizing TMED2 and PARD3B expression through the m6A-HuR-mediated mechanism. Thus, demonstrating VIRMA and its pathway as candidate therapeutic targets for ICC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongfa Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaowen Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongliang Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Xu He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Lige Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Ligong Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Meixiao Zhan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China.
| | - Ke He
- Minimally Invasive Tumor Therapies Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, 510310, Guangdong, China.
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Lian B, Yan S, Li J, Bai Z, Li J. HNRNPC promotes collagen fiber alignment and immune evasion in breast cancer via activation of the VIRMA-mediated TFAP2A/DDR1 axis. Mol Med 2023; 29:103. [PMID: 37528369 PMCID: PMC10394847 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00696-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancers aggressively reorganize collagen in their microenvironment, leading to the evasion of tumor cells from immune surveillance. However, the biological significance and molecular mechanism of collagen alignment in breast cancer (BC) have not been well established. METHODS In this study, BC-related RNA-Seq data were obtained from the TCGA database to analyze the correlation between DDR1 and immune cells. Mouse BC cells EO771 were selected for in vitro validation, and dual-luciferase experiments were conducted to examine the effect of TFAP2A on DDR1 promoter transcription activity. ChIP experiments were performed to assess TFAP2A enrichment on the DDR1 promoter, while Me-RIP experiments were conducted to detect TFAP2A mRNA m6A modification levels, and PAR-CLIP experiments were conducted to determine VIRMA's binding to TFAP2A mRNA and RIP experiments to investigate HNRNPC's recognition of m6A modification on TFAP2A mRNA. Additionally, an in vivo mouse BC transplant model and the micro-physiological system was constructed for validation, and Masson staining was used to assess collagen fiber arrangement. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to identify the number of CD8-positive cells in mouse BC tumors and Collagen IV content in ECM, while CD8 + T cell migration experiments were performed to measure CD8 + T cell migration. RESULTS Bioinformatics analysis showed that DDR1 was highly expressed in BC and negatively correlated with the proportion of anti-tumor immune cell infiltration. In vitro cell experiments indicated that VIRMA, HNRNPC, TFAP2A, and DDR1 were highly expressed in BC cells. In addition, HNRNPC promoted TFAP2A expression and, therefore, DDR1 transcription by recognizing the m6A modification of TFAP2A mRNA by VIRMA. In vivo animal experiments further confirmed that VIRMA and HNRNPC enhanced the TFAP2A/DDR1 axis, promoting collagen fiber alignment, reducing anti-tumor immune cell infiltration, and promoting immune escape in BC. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that HNRNPC promoted DDR1 transcription by recognizing VIRMA-unveiled m6A modification of TFAP2A mRNA, which enhanced collagen fiber alignment and ultimately resulted in the reduction of anti-tumor immune cell infiltration and promotion of immune escape in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lian
- Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804, Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
| | - Shuxun Yan
- Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Northwest University for Nationalities, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | | | - Jinping Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804, Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
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Ensinck I, Maman A, Albihlal WS, Lassandro M, Salzano G, Sideri T, Howell SA, Calvani E, Patel H, Bushkin G, Ralser M, Snijders AP, Skehel M, Casañal A, Schwartz S, van Werven FJ. The yeast RNA methylation complex consists of conserved yet reconfigured components with m6A-dependent and independent roles. eLife 2023; 12:RP87860. [PMID: 37490041 PMCID: PMC10393049 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant mRNA modification, is deposited in mammals/insects/plants by m6A methyltransferase complexes (MTC) comprising a catalytic subunit and at least five additional proteins. The yeast MTC is critical for meiosis and was known to comprise three proteins, of which two were conserved. We uncover three novel MTC components (Kar4/Ygl036w-Vir1/Dyn2). All MTC subunits, except for Dyn2, are essential for m6A deposition and have corresponding mammalian MTC orthologues. Unlike the mammalian bipartite MTC, the yeast MTC is unipartite, yet multifunctional. The mRNA interacting module, comprising Ime4, Mum2, Vir1, and Kar4, exerts the MTC's m6A-independent function, while Slz1 enables the MTC catalytic function in m6A deposition. Both functions are critical for meiotic progression. Kar4 also has a mechanistically separate role from the MTC during mating. The yeast MTC constituents play distinguishable m6A-dependent, MTC-dependent, and MTC-independent functions, highlighting their complexity and paving the path towards dissecting multi-layered MTC functions in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander Maman
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Guy Bushkin
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeUnited States
| | - Markus Ralser
- The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of BiochemistryBerlinGermany
| | | | - Mark Skehel
- The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Schraga Schwartz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
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Lee Q, Song R, Phan DAV, Pinello N, Tieng J, Su A, Halstead JM, Wong ACH, van Geldermalsen M, Lee BSL, Rong B, Cook KM, Larance M, Liu R, Lan F, Tiffen JC, Wong JJL. Overexpression of VIRMA confers vulnerability to breast cancers via the m 6A-dependent regulation of unfolded protein response. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:157. [PMID: 37208522 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04799-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Virilizer-like m6A methyltransferase-associated protein (VIRMA) maintains the stability of the m6A writer complex. Although VIRMA is critical for RNA m6A deposition, the impact of aberrant VIRMA expression in human diseases remains unclear. We show that VIRMA is amplified and overexpressed in 15-20% of breast cancers. Of the two known VIRMA isoforms, the nuclear-enriched full-length but not the cytoplasmic-localised N-terminal VIRMA promotes m6A-dependent breast tumourigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we reveal that VIRMA overexpression upregulates the m6A-modified long non-coding RNA, NEAT1, which contributes to breast cancer cell growth. We also show that VIRMA overexpression enriches m6A on transcripts that regulate the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway but does not promote their translation to activate the UPR under optimal growth conditions. Under stressful conditions that are often present in tumour microenvironments, VIRMA-overexpressing cells display enhanced UPR and increased susceptibility to death. Our study identifies oncogenic VIRMA overexpression as a vulnerability that may be exploited for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quintin Lee
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Renhua Song
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Dang Anh Vu Phan
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Natalia Pinello
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Jessica Tieng
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Anni Su
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - James M Halstead
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Alex C H Wong
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Michelle van Geldermalsen
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Bob S-L Lee
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Bowen Rong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Kristina M Cook
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Mark Larance
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Renjing Liu
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Fei Lan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jessamy C Tiffen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Melanoma Epigenetics Laboratory Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Justin J-L Wong
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- , Locked Bag 6, Newtown, NSW, 2042, Australia.
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Zheng ZQ, Huang ZH, Liang YL, Zheng WH, Xu C, Li ZX, Liu N, Yang PY, Li YQ, Ma J, Sun Y, Tang LL, Wei D. VIRMA Promotes Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tumorigenesis and Metastasis by Upregulation of E2F7 in an m6A-Dependent Manner. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104677. [PMID: 37028765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification possesses new and essential roles in tumor initiation and progression by regulating mRNA biology. However, the role of aberrant m6A regulation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. Here, through comprehensive analyses of NPC cohorts from the GEO database and our internal cohort, we identified that VIRMA, an m6A writer, is significantly upregulated in NPC and plays an essential role in tumorigenesis and metastasis of NPC, both in vitro and in vivo. High VIRMA expression served as a prognostic biomarker and was associated with poor outcomes in patients with NPC. Mechanistically, VIRMA mediated the m6A methylation of E2F7 3'-UTR, then IGF2BP2 bound and maintained the stability of E2F7 mRNA. An integrative high-throughput sequencing approach revealed that E2F7 drives a unique transcriptome distinct from the classical E2F family in NPC, which functioned as an oncogenic transcriptional activator. E2F7 cooperated with CBFB-recruited RUNX1 in a non-canonical manner to transactivate ITGA2, ITGA5, and NTRK1, strengthening Akt signaling-induced tumor-promoting effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Qi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Zhuo-Hui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Ye-Lin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Hong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Cheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Xuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Na Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Pan-Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Qin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Ying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China.
| | - Ling-Long Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China.
| | - Denghui Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China.
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9
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Abstract
Information in mRNA has largely been thought to be confined to its nucleotide sequence. However, the advent of mapping techniques to detect modified nucleotides has revealed that mRNA contains additional information in the form of chemical modifications. The most abundant modified nucleotide is N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a methyl modification of adenosine. Although early studies viewed m6A as a dynamic and tissue-specific modification, it is now clear that the mRNAs that contain m6A and the location of m6A in those transcripts are largely universal and are influenced by gene architecture, i.e., the size and location of exons and introns. m6A can affect nuclear processes such as splicing and epigenetic regulation, but the major effect of m6A on mRNAs is to promote degradation in the cytoplasm. m6A marks a functionally related cohort of mRNAs linked to certain biological processes, including cell differentiation and cell fate determination. m6A is also enriched in other cohorts of mRNAs and can therefore affect their respective cellular processes and pathways. Future work will focus on understanding how the m6A pathway is regulated to achieve control of m6A-containing mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shino Murakami
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Samie R Jaffrey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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10
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Miranda-Gonçalves V, Lobo J, Guimarães-Teixeira C, Barros-Silva D, Guimarães R, Cantante M, Braga I, Maurício J, Oing C, Honecker F, Nettersheim D, Looijenga LHJ, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. The component of the m 6A writer complex VIRMA is implicated in aggressive tumor phenotype, DNA damage response and cisplatin resistance in germ cell tumors. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:268. [PMID: 34446080 PMCID: PMC8390281 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02072-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are developmental cancers, tightly linked to embryogenesis and germ cell development. The recent and expanding field of RNA modifications is being increasingly implicated in such molecular events, as well as in tumor progression and resistance to therapy, but still rarely explored in GCTs. In this work, and as a follow-up of our recent study on this topic in TGCT tissue samples, we aim to investigate the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant of such modifications in mRNA, in in vitro and in vivo models representative of such tumors. Methods Four cell lines representative of GCTs (three testicular and one mediastinal), including an isogenic cisplatin resistant subline, were used. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown of VIRMA was established and the chorioallantoic membrane assay was used to study its phenotypic effect in vivo. Results We demonstrated the differential expression of the various m6A writers, readers and erasers in GCT cell lines representative of the major classes of these tumors, seminomas and non-seminomas, and we evidenced changes occurring upon differentiation with all-trans retinoic acid treatment. We showed differential expression also among cells sensitive and resistant to cisplatin treatment, implicating these players in acquisition of cisplatin resistant phenotype. Knockdown of VIRMA led to disruption of the remaining methyltransferase complex and decrease in m6A abundance, as well as overall reduced tumor aggressiveness (with decreased cell viability, tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion) and increased sensitivity to cisplatin treatment, both in vitro and confirmed in vivo. Enhanced response to cisplatin after VIRMA knockdown was related to significant increase in DNA damage (with higher γH2AX and GADD45B levels) and downregulation of XLF and MRE11. Conclusions VIRMA has an oncogenic role in GCTs confirming our previous tissue-based study and is further involved in response to cisplatin by interfering with DNA repair. These data contribute to our better understanding of the emergence of cisplatin resistance in GCTs and support recent attempts to therapeutically target elements of the m6A writer complex. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02072-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Miranda-Gonçalves
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584, CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Catarina Guimarães-Teixeira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Barros-Silva
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Guimarães
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Cantante
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isaac Braga
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquina Maurício
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Christoph Oing
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCs4, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedemann Honecker
- Tumour and Breast Center ZeTuP St. Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 150, 9006, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Nettersheim
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Lab, Translational UroOncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Leendert H J Looijenga
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584, CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.
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11
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Zhu W, Wang JZ, Wei JF, Lu C. Role of m6A methyltransferase component VIRMA in multiple human cancers (Review). Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:172. [PMID: 33731118 PMCID: PMC7968318 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-01868-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification is one of the most widely distributed RNA modifications in eukaryotes. It participates in various RNA functions and plays vital roles in tissue development, stem cell formation and differentiation, heat shock response control, and circadian clock controlling, particularly during tumor development. The reversible regulation of m6A modification is affected by the so-called ‘reader’, ‘writer’ and ‘eraser’. As a required component and the largest methyltransferase, vir-like m6A methyltransferase associated (VIRMA) can promote the progression of cancer and is associated with poor survival in multiple types of cancer. The present review investigated the role of VIRMA in various types of cancer. In an m6A-dependent or -independent manner, VIRMA can play an oncogenic role by regulating cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, metastasis, apoptosis resistance and tumor growth in different pathways by targeting stem factors, CCAT1/2, ID2, GATA3, CDK1, c-Jun, etc. VIRMA can also predict better prognosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP) and papillary thyroid carcinoma by TCGA analysis. The obvious oncogenic roles of VIRMA observed in different types of cancer and the mechanisms of VIRMA promoting cancers provided the basis for potential therapeutic targeting for cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhu
- Precision Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, 128 Jinling Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China.,Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital), 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing-Zi Wang
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ji-Fu Wei
- Precision Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, 128 Jinling Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China. .,Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital), 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Chen Lu
- Precision Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, 128 Jinling Road, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
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12
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Barros-Silva D, Lobo J, Guimarães-Teixeira C, Carneiro I, Oliveira J, Martens-Uzunova ES, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. VIRMA-Dependent N6-Methyladenosine Modifications Regulate the Expression of Long Non-Coding RNAs CCAT1 and CCAT2 in Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E771. [PMID: 32218194 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA methylation at position N6 in adenosine (m6A) and its associated methyltransferase complex (MTC) are involved in tumorigenesis. We aimed to explore m6A biological function for long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in prostate cancer (PCa) and its clinical significance. m6A and MTC levels in PCa cells were characterized by ELISA and western blot. Putative m6A-regulated lncRNAs were identified and validated by lncRNA profiler qPCR array and bioinformatics analysis, followed by m6A/RNA co-immunoprecipitation. Impact of m6A depletion on RNA stability was assessed by Actinomycin D assay. The association of m6A-levels with PCa prognosis was examined in clinical samples. Higher m6A-levels and VIRMA overexpression were detected in metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC) cells (p < 0.05). VIRMA knockdown in PC-3 cells significantly decreased m6A-levels (p = 0.0317), attenuated malignant phenotype and suppressed the expression of oncogenic lncRNAs CCAT1 and CCAT2 (p < 0.00001). VIRMA depletion and m6A reduction decreased the stability and abundance of CCAT1/2 transcripts. Higher expression of VIRMA, CCAT1, and CCAT2 as a group variable was an independent predictor of poor prognosis (HR = 9.083, CI95% 1.911–43.183, p = 0.006). VIRMA is a critical factor sustaining m6A-levels in PCa cells. VIRMA downregulation attenuates the aggressive phenotype of PCa by overall reduction of m6A-levels decreasing stability and abundance of oncogenic lncRNAs.
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13
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Lobo J, Costa AL, Cantante M, Guimarães R, Lopes P, Antunes L, Braga I, Oliveira J, Pelizzola M, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. m 6A RNA modification and its writer/reader VIRMA/YTHDF3 in testicular germ cell tumors: a role in seminoma phenotype maintenance. J Transl Med 2019; 17:79. [PMID: 30866959 PMCID: PMC6416960 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-1837-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Covalent RNA modifications, such as N-6-methyladenosine (m6A), have been associated with various biological processes, but their role in cancer remains largely unexplored. m6A dynamics depends on specific enzymes whose deregulation may also impact in tumorigenesis. Herein, we assessed the differential abundance of m6A, its writer VIRMA and its reader YTHDF3, in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), looking for clinicopathological correlates. METHODS In silico analysis of TCGA data disclosed altered expression of VIRMA (52%) and YTHDF3 (48%), prompting subsequent validation. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 122 TGCTs (2005-2016) were selected. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and real-time qPCR (Taqman assays) for VIRMA and YTHDF3 were performed, as well as immunohistochemistry for VIRMA, YTHDF3 and m6A, for staining intensity assessment. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using Chi square and Fisher's exact test. Distribution of continuous variables between groups was compared using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Biomarker performance was assessed through receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve construction and a cut-off was established by Youden's index method. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS In our cohort, VIRMA and YTHDF3 mRNA expression levels differed among TGCT subtypes, with Seminomas (SEs) depicting higher levels than Non-Seminomatous tumors (NSTs) (p < 0.01 for both). A positive correlation was found between VIRMA and YTHDF3 expression levels. VIRMA discriminated SEs from NSTs with AUC = 0.85 (Sensitivity 77.3%, Specificity 81.1%, PPV 71.6%, NPV 85.3%, Accuracy 79.7%). Immunohistochemistry paralleled transcript findings, as patients with strong m6A immunostaining intensity depicted significantly higher VIRMA mRNA expression levels and stronger VIRMA immunoexpression intensity (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION Abundance of m6A and expression of VIRMA/YTHDF3 were different among TGCT subtypes, with higher levels in SEs, suggesting a contribution to SE phenotype maintenance. VIRMA and YTHDF3 might cooperate in m6A establishment in TGCTs, and their transcript levels accurately discriminate between SEs and NSTs, constituting novel candidate biomarkers for patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group (CBEG), IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Laura Costa
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group (CBEG), IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Cantante
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Guimarães
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Lopes
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Antunes
- Department of Epidemiology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isaac Braga
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Oliveira
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mattia Pelizzola
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group (CBEG), IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group (CBEG), IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.
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