VIRMA promotes the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by regulating UBR5 mRNA and m6A levels

Chunyu Zhu; Yameng  Cheng; Yao Yu; Yanning  Zhang; Guiyun Ren

doi:10.17305/bb.2024.10358

Authors

Chunyu Zhu Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology and Stomatological Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2506-822X
Yameng Cheng The Key Laboratory of Oral Medicine in Hebei Province, School of Stomatology and Stomatological Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
Yao Yu Hebei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shijiazhuang, China https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1135-5858
Yanning Zhang The Key Laboratory of Oral Medicine in Hebei Province, School of Stomatology and Stomatological Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
Guiyun Ren Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology and Stomatological Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2024.10358

Keywords:

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, vir-like m6A methyltransferase associated (VIRMA), proliferation, invasion, biomarker

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a globally prevalent and lethal cancer form, whose precise mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Increasing evidence suggests that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a crucial role in cancer progression. This study aimed to explore the biological function of m6A modification and vir-like m6A methyltransferase associated (VIRMA) in HNSCC. We conducted an analysis of VIRMA expression in HNSCC cells using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and employed reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting to assess its expression levels in HNSCC cell lines. Additionally, m6A levels in HNSCC cells were quantified, and the correlation between VIRMA expression levels and the clinical and pathological features of other genes was analyzed. Upon knocking down VIRMA levels, we assessed HNSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and validated downstream genes using RT-qPCR and western blot. Our findings suggested that VIRMA, as an m6A-related regulator, may significantly influence HNSCC progression by regulating ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component N-recognin 5 (UBR5) through m6A modification. Therefore, VIRMA may serve as a prognostic biomarker.