背景:鼻咽癌(NPC)是鼻咽粘膜的恶性上皮性肿瘤,在世界范围内发病率很高。甲基转移酶样14(METTL14)是一种主要的RNAN6-腺苷甲基转移酶,通过调节RNA功能参与肿瘤进展。本研究旨在探讨METTL14在鼻咽癌中的生物学功能和作用机制。
方法:采用实时定量聚合酶链反应(RT-qPCR)方法检测METTL14和含胺氧化酶铜1(AOC1)的表达。METTL14,AOC1,细胞周期蛋白D1,B细胞淋巴瘤-2(Bcl-2)的蛋白水平,和N-cadherin使用蛋白质印迹测量。细胞增殖,周期进展,凋亡,迁移,使用5-乙炔基-2'-脱氧尿苷(EdU)评估侵袭,殖民地的形成,流式细胞术,伤口划伤,和transwell分析。使用RNA免疫沉淀(RIP)验证了METTL14和AOC1之间的相互作用,甲基化RNA免疫沉淀(MeRIP),和双荧光素酶报告基因测定。通过体内异种移植肿瘤模型检查了METTL14对NPC肿瘤生长的生物学作用。
结果:METTL14和AOC1在NPC组织和细胞中高表达。此外,METTL14敲低可能阻断NPC细胞增殖,迁移,入侵,体外诱导细胞凋亡。在机制上,METTL14可能通过m6A甲基化增强AOC1mRNA的稳定性。METTL14沉默可能在体内抑制NPC肿瘤生长。
结论:METTL14可能通过调节AOC1mRNA的稳定性促进NPC细胞的发育,这为NPC治疗提供了一个有希望的治疗靶点。
BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor of the nasopharyngeal mucosa with a high incidence rate all over the world. Methyltransferase-like 14 (
METTL14) is a major RNA N6-adenosine methyltransferase implicated in tumor progression by regulating RNA function. This study is designed to explore the biological function and mechanism of
METTL14 in NPC.
METHODS: METTL14 and Amine oxidase copper containing 1 (AOC1) expression were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The protein levels of METTL14, AOC1, Cyclin D1, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and N-cadherin were measured using western blot. Cell proliferation, cycle progression, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assessed using 5-ethynyl-2\'-deoxyuridine (EdU), Colony formation, flow cytometry, wound scratch, and transwell assays. The interaction between METTL14 and AOC1 was verified using RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP), and dual-luciferase reporter assays. The biological role of METTL14 on NPC tumor growth was examined by the xenograft tumor model in vivo.
RESULTS: METTL14 and AOC1 were highly expressed in NPC tissues and cells. Moreover, METTL14 knockdown might block NPC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and induce cell apoptosis in vitro. In mechanism,
METTL14 might enhance the stability of AOC1 mRNA via m6A methylation.
METTL14 silencing might repress NPC tumor growth in vivo.
CONCLUSIONS: METTL14 might boosted the development of NPC cells partly by regulating the stability of AOC1 mRNA, which provided a promising therapeutic target for NPC treatment.