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.
MethodsThe 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.
ResultsThe 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).
ConclusionThe 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.