Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) ›› 2022, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (4): 962-970.doi: 10.13481/j.1671-587X.20220416

• Research in clinical medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Expression of m6A methylation binding protein YTHDF2 in esophageal carcinoma tissue and its effect on proliferation and migration of esophageal carcinoma cells

Yandi MA1,Xiangyun LU1,Shangfeng HE1,Xueyan YU1,Yunhua HU1,Haixia GAO1,Yunzhao CHEN2,Jie YU2,Wenjie WANG2,Feng LI1,3,Xiaobin CUI1,4()   

  1. 1.Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China
    2.Department of Pathology, Suzhou High Tech Zone People’s Hospital, Suzhou 215000, China
    3.Department of Pathology and Medical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
    4.Department of Pathology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medical Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
  • Received:2021-11-24 Online:2022-07-28 Published:2022-07-26
  • Contact: Xiaobin CUI E-mail:342029924@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the expression of N6-methyladenosine(m6A) methylation binding protein YTH domain-containing family protein 2 (YTHDF2) in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue and its effect on the biological behavior of esophageal carcinoma cells,and to clarify its possible mechanism.

Methods

The expressions of YTHDF2 protein in 113 cases of ESCC tissue and 95 cases of normal tissue adjacent to esophageal carcinoma were detected by immunohistochemical method. The relationships between the expression of YTHDF2 protein and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of the ESCC patients were analyzed.The Eca109 and EC9706 cells cultured in vitro were divided into control group (transfected with si-NC) and si-YTHDF2 groups (transfected with si-YTHDF2#1 and si-YTHDF2#2). The expressions of YTHDF2 protein in the cells in various groups were detected by Western blotting method. The proliferation abilities of cells in various groups were detected by CCK-8 method, the number of colony formation in various groups was detected by colony formation experiment, and the number of migration cells in various groups were detected by Transwell chamber assay.

Results

The YTHDF2 protein mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of ESCC cells and a small amount of YTHDF2 protein expressed in the nucleus.The expression amount of YTHDF2 protein in ESCC tissue was significantly higher than that in paracancerous normal tissue (P<0.01). There were significant differences in the expression intensities of YTHDF2 protein in the ESCC patients with different ages of onset and TNM stages (P=0.008,P=0.041). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that compared with YTHDF2 low expression group,the survival time of the patients in YTHDF2 high expression group was significantly shortened(P<0.05). The CCK-8 method and colony formation experiment results showed that the proliferation activities and the number of colony formation of esophageal carcinoma cells in si-YTHDF2 transfection groups were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01). The Transwell chamber assay results showed that the number of migration esophageal carcinoma cells in si-YTHDF2 transfection groups was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01).

Conclusion

The expression of YTHDF2 in ESCC tissue is significantly higher than that in the normal tissue. YTHDF2 knockdown contributes to inhibiting the proliferation, colony formation and migration of esophageal carcinoma cells.

Key words: Esophageal neoplasms, Squamous cell carcinoma, YTH domain-containing family protein 2, Cell proliferation, Cell migration

CLC Number: 

  • R735.1