DNA 6mA demethylase ALKBH1 regulates DDX18 expression to promote proliferation of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

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Chengli Guo, Zheming Liu, Haojian Zhang

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Chengli Guo: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Zheming Liu: Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, No.185, East Lake Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China. ZhemingLiu@whu.edu.cn.
Haojian Zhang: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. haojian_zhang@whu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36976498 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-023-00800-1

PURPOSE: Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Currently, surgical resection plus a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the standard treatment for HNSCC, and the 5-year survival rate of patients with HNSCC remains very low because of the higher incidence of metastasis with consequent recurrence. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential role of DNA N6-methyladenine (6mA) demethylase ALKBH1 in tumor cell proliferation in HNSCC.
METHODS: The expression of ALKBH1 in 10 pairs of HNSCC/normal tissues and 3 HNSCC cell lines were measured by qRT‒PCR and western blotting. Colony formation, flow cytometry, patient-derived HNSCC organoid assays were used to assess the role of ALKBH1 in HNSCC cell proliferation in cell lines and human HNSCC patients. MeDIP-seq, RNA sequencing, Dot blotting and western blotting were used to evaluate the regulatory effect of ALKBH1 on the expression of DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX18. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to assess the putative effect of DNA 6mA levels on DDX18 transcription.
RESULTS: ALKBH1 was highly expressed in HNSCC cells and patient tissues. Functional experiments revealed that ALKBH1 knockdown in SCC9, SCC25, and CAL27 cells inhibited their proliferation in vitro. Using patient-derived HNSCC organoid assay, we found that knockdown of ALKBH1 inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of HNSCC patients-derived organoids. Moreover, we found that ALKBH1 can enhance DDX18 expression by erasing DNA 6mA level and regulating its promoter activity. ALKBH1 deficiency blocked tumor cell proliferation by inhibiting DDX18 expression. Exogenous overexpression of DDX18 rescued the cell proliferation arrest caused by ALKBH1 knockdown.
CONCLUSION: Our data reveal the important role of ALKBH1 in regulating proliferation of HNSCC.

ALKBH1 DDX18 DNA 6mA Head and neck carcinoma

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2042021kf0225/the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

Humans

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Head and Neck Neoplasms

Cell Proliferation

DNA

Cell Line, Tumor

AlkB Homolog 1, Histone H2a Dioxygenase

DNA

ALKBH1 protein, human

AlkB Homolog 1, Histone H2a Dioxygenase

Journal Article

OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience