Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a prevalent modification of mRNA and is known to play important roles in tumorigenesis in many types of cancer. The function of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation depends on a variety of methyltransferases and demethylases. AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) is a demethylase, and its biological function has not been completely explored in HCC.Results
ALKBH5 is downregulated and has antitumor effects in HCC cells. In addition, Progestin and AdipoQ Receptor 4 (PAQR4) was identified as a downstream target of ALKBH5 based on transcriptome sequencing and validation studies. We found that ALKBH5 decreases PAQR4 mRNA and protein expression in an N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-dependent manner. The study also showed that ALKBH5 changes PAQR4 expression via the m6A reader IGF2BP1. In both in vivo and in vitro experiments, PAQR4 showed a strong association with the development of HCC. Finally, we found that PAQR4 interacts with AKT and enhances PI3K/AKT pathway activation.Conclusions
ALKBH5 inhibits HCC growth by downregulating PAQR4 expression in an m6A-dependent manner, therefore suppressing PI3K/AKT pathway activation.
SUBMITTER: Wang W
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9825045 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Wang Weijian W Huang Qibo Q Liao Zhibin Z Zhang Hongwei H Liu Yachong Y Liu Furong F Chen Xiaoping X Zhang Bixiang B Chen Yan Y Zhu Peng P
Experimental hematology & oncology 20230106 1
<h4>Background</h4>N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a prevalent modification of mRNA and is known to play important roles in tumorigenesis in many types of cancer. The function of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation depends on a variety of methyltransferases and demethylases. AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) is a demethylase, and its biological function has not been completely explored in HCC.<h4>Results</h4>ALKBH5 is downregulated and has antitumor effects in HCC cells. In addition, Progestin and AdipoQ ...[more]