Objective:To investigate the biological functions and molecular regulatory mechanisms of kinesin family member 11(KIF11)in colorectal cancer(CRC).Methods:The expression of KIF11 in CRC was examined by qRT⁃PCR and publ...Objective:To investigate the biological functions and molecular regulatory mechanisms of kinesin family member 11(KIF11)in colorectal cancer(CRC).Methods:The expression of KIF11 in CRC was examined by qRT⁃PCR and public databases.Functional assays(CCK⁃8,colony formation,EdU,and Transwell)were employed to evaluate KIF11’s roles in CRC progression.Western blot,RIP⁃qPCR,MeRIP⁃qPCR,and RNA stability assays were performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of N6⁃methyladenosine(m6A)modification for KIF11.RNA sequencing(RNA⁃seq)and correlation analysis were used to examine the downstream mechanism of KIF11 regulation.Results:KIF11 was highly expressed in CRC and promoted CRC proliferation and migration.Mechanistically,methyltransferase⁃like 3(METTL3)/insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2(IGF2BP2)enhanced KIF11 mRNA stability and expression in an m6A⁃dependent way.Furthermore,by means of the PROM1/PI3K/AKT pathway,KIF11 facilitated the progression of CRC.Conclusion:The m6A modification of KIF11 by METTL3/IGF2BP2 contributes to CRC progression via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,highlighting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.展开更多
Objective:Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is characterized by insufficient insulin secretion and insulin resistance.Gypenosides(GPs)are the major bioactive saponins extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum.Previous studie...Objective:Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is characterized by insufficient insulin secretion and insulin resistance.Gypenosides(GPs)are the major bioactive saponins extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum.Previous studies suggest that GPs have beneficial effects on T2DM,but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.This study aims to investigate whether GPs exert therapeutic effects by influencing RNA N^(6)-methyladenosine(m6A)methylation modification,thereby regulating the downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathway.Methods:Expression levels and methylation changes of METTL3,METTL14,and FTO in T2DM were analyzed using public databases,and related pathways were explored via gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses.The main active components of GPs were screened from pharmacological databases,followed by compound-target network construction,enrichment analyses,and prediction of potential targets and pathways.A T2DM model was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using a high-fat/high-sugar diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin.Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:GPs-treated group(GPG,400 mg/kg),positive control group(PCG,metformin 100 mg/kg),normal saline control group(CONTROL),and T2DM model group(MODEL).Fasting blood glucose(FBG),oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)-area under the glucose curve from 0 to 120 min(AUC0-120),fasting insulin(FINS),homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR),serum inflammatory factors,and tissue pathology of pancreas and liver hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining were assessed.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to detect RNA and protein expression levels of METTL3,METTL14,FTO,PI3K,and AKT in pancreatic tissues.Molecular docking was applied to evaluate interactions between GPs’main components and METTL3,METTL14,and FTO to infer potential binding modes.Results:Bioinformatic analyses showed downregulation of METTL3/14 and upregulation of FTO in T2DM samples(all P<0.05),with enrichment in pathways related to insulin signaling,PI3K/AKT activation,oxidative stress response,and hormone secretion.Network pharmacology indicated that GPs components may act on targets involved in RNA modification and insulin-related pathways.In diabetic rats,GPs significantly reduced FBG,improved glucose tolerance,decreased HOMA-IR,and decreased the serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin(IL)-6 levels compared with MODEL(all P<0.05).Pancreatic pathology showed alleviated islet injury and improved cell morphology.GPs treatment upregulated METTL3/14 mRNA and protein levels,and down-regulated FTO mRNA/protein levels in pancreatic tissue(all P<0.05).PI3K and AKT expression levels increased(both P<0.05),consistent with activation of downstream signals related to glucose uptake and improved insulin sensitivity.Metformin also improved metabolic indices but exhibited a different regulatory pattern on m6A-related enzymes compared with GPs.Molecular docking revealed stable interactions between core GPs saponin structures and methyltransferase-like 3(METTL3),methyltransferase-like 14(METTL14),or obesityassociated protein(FTO),suggesting that GPs may directly or indirectly modulate m6A regulatory proteins.Conclusion:GPs can effectively improve glucose-metabolism disorders,reduce inflammation,and protect pancreatic tissue in T2DM rats.The mechanisms may be associated with METTL3/14 up-regulation and FTO down-regulation,leading to enhanced m6A methylation and subsequent activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.These findings provide strong evidence for GPs regulation of epigenetic m6A RNA modification and insulin-related downstream pathways,and suggest that natural compounds targeting m6A regulation may be explored in the future for metabolic disease interventions.展开更多
N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification,one of the most prevalent RNA epi-genetic modifications in eukaryotes,constitutes over 60%of all RNA methylation modifications.This dynamic modification regulates RNA processing,mat...N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification,one of the most prevalent RNA epi-genetic modifications in eukaryotes,constitutes over 60%of all RNA methylation modifications.This dynamic modification regulates RNA processing,maturation,nucleocytoplasmic transport,translation efficiency,phase separation,and sta-bility,thereby linking its dysregulation to diverse physiological and pathological processes.METTL3,a core catalytic component of the methyltransferase complex responsible for m6A deposition,is frequently dysregulated in diseases,including colorectal cancer(CRC).Although METTL3’s involvement in CRC pathogenesis has been documented,its precise molecular mechanisms and functional roles remain incompletely understood.METTL3 mediates CRC progression-encompa-ssing proliferation,invasion,drug resistance,and metabolic reprogramming-through m6A-dependent modulation of both coding RNAs and noncoding RNAs.Its regulatory effects are primarily attributed to interactions with key signaling pathways at multiple stages of CRC development.Emerging evidence highlights METTL3 as a promising biomarker for CRC diagnosis and prognosis,as well as a potential therapeutic target.By synthesizing recent advances in METTL3 research within CRC,this review provides critical insights into novel strategies for clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy.展开更多
基金江苏省卫生健康委员会医学科研重点项目(K2023024)789 Outstanding Talent Program of SAHNMU(789ZYRC202090147)。
文摘Objective:To investigate the biological functions and molecular regulatory mechanisms of kinesin family member 11(KIF11)in colorectal cancer(CRC).Methods:The expression of KIF11 in CRC was examined by qRT⁃PCR and public databases.Functional assays(CCK⁃8,colony formation,EdU,and Transwell)were employed to evaluate KIF11’s roles in CRC progression.Western blot,RIP⁃qPCR,MeRIP⁃qPCR,and RNA stability assays were performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of N6⁃methyladenosine(m6A)modification for KIF11.RNA sequencing(RNA⁃seq)and correlation analysis were used to examine the downstream mechanism of KIF11 regulation.Results:KIF11 was highly expressed in CRC and promoted CRC proliferation and migration.Mechanistically,methyltransferase⁃like 3(METTL3)/insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2(IGF2BP2)enhanced KIF11 mRNA stability and expression in an m6A⁃dependent way.Furthermore,by means of the PROM1/PI3K/AKT pathway,KIF11 facilitated the progression of CRC.Conclusion:The m6A modification of KIF11 by METTL3/IGF2BP2 contributes to CRC progression via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,highlighting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
基金supported by College Students’Innovative Entrepreneurial Training Plan Program of Guizhou Province,China(S202210660105,S202310660055)。
文摘Objective:Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is characterized by insufficient insulin secretion and insulin resistance.Gypenosides(GPs)are the major bioactive saponins extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum.Previous studies suggest that GPs have beneficial effects on T2DM,but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.This study aims to investigate whether GPs exert therapeutic effects by influencing RNA N^(6)-methyladenosine(m6A)methylation modification,thereby regulating the downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathway.Methods:Expression levels and methylation changes of METTL3,METTL14,and FTO in T2DM were analyzed using public databases,and related pathways were explored via gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses.The main active components of GPs were screened from pharmacological databases,followed by compound-target network construction,enrichment analyses,and prediction of potential targets and pathways.A T2DM model was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using a high-fat/high-sugar diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin.Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:GPs-treated group(GPG,400 mg/kg),positive control group(PCG,metformin 100 mg/kg),normal saline control group(CONTROL),and T2DM model group(MODEL).Fasting blood glucose(FBG),oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)-area under the glucose curve from 0 to 120 min(AUC0-120),fasting insulin(FINS),homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR),serum inflammatory factors,and tissue pathology of pancreas and liver hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining were assessed.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to detect RNA and protein expression levels of METTL3,METTL14,FTO,PI3K,and AKT in pancreatic tissues.Molecular docking was applied to evaluate interactions between GPs’main components and METTL3,METTL14,and FTO to infer potential binding modes.Results:Bioinformatic analyses showed downregulation of METTL3/14 and upregulation of FTO in T2DM samples(all P<0.05),with enrichment in pathways related to insulin signaling,PI3K/AKT activation,oxidative stress response,and hormone secretion.Network pharmacology indicated that GPs components may act on targets involved in RNA modification and insulin-related pathways.In diabetic rats,GPs significantly reduced FBG,improved glucose tolerance,decreased HOMA-IR,and decreased the serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin(IL)-6 levels compared with MODEL(all P<0.05).Pancreatic pathology showed alleviated islet injury and improved cell morphology.GPs treatment upregulated METTL3/14 mRNA and protein levels,and down-regulated FTO mRNA/protein levels in pancreatic tissue(all P<0.05).PI3K and AKT expression levels increased(both P<0.05),consistent with activation of downstream signals related to glucose uptake and improved insulin sensitivity.Metformin also improved metabolic indices but exhibited a different regulatory pattern on m6A-related enzymes compared with GPs.Molecular docking revealed stable interactions between core GPs saponin structures and methyltransferase-like 3(METTL3),methyltransferase-like 14(METTL14),or obesityassociated protein(FTO),suggesting that GPs may directly or indirectly modulate m6A regulatory proteins.Conclusion:GPs can effectively improve glucose-metabolism disorders,reduce inflammation,and protect pancreatic tissue in T2DM rats.The mechanisms may be associated with METTL3/14 up-regulation and FTO down-regulation,leading to enhanced m6A methylation and subsequent activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.These findings provide strong evidence for GPs regulation of epigenetic m6A RNA modification and insulin-related downstream pathways,and suggest that natural compounds targeting m6A regulation may be explored in the future for metabolic disease interventions.
基金Supported by Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation,No.20242BAB25454the Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular of Ministry of Education of Gannan Medical University,No.XN202013+1 种基金Science and Technology Research Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education,No.GJJ201528Startup Foundation for Advanced Talents of Gannan Medical University,No.QD202124.
文摘N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification,one of the most prevalent RNA epi-genetic modifications in eukaryotes,constitutes over 60%of all RNA methylation modifications.This dynamic modification regulates RNA processing,maturation,nucleocytoplasmic transport,translation efficiency,phase separation,and sta-bility,thereby linking its dysregulation to diverse physiological and pathological processes.METTL3,a core catalytic component of the methyltransferase complex responsible for m6A deposition,is frequently dysregulated in diseases,including colorectal cancer(CRC).Although METTL3’s involvement in CRC pathogenesis has been documented,its precise molecular mechanisms and functional roles remain incompletely understood.METTL3 mediates CRC progression-encompa-ssing proliferation,invasion,drug resistance,and metabolic reprogramming-through m6A-dependent modulation of both coding RNAs and noncoding RNAs.Its regulatory effects are primarily attributed to interactions with key signaling pathways at multiple stages of CRC development.Emerging evidence highlights METTL3 as a promising biomarker for CRC diagnosis and prognosis,as well as a potential therapeutic target.By synthesizing recent advances in METTL3 research within CRC,this review provides critical insights into novel strategies for clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy.
