1. Academic Validation
  2. Targeting SLC3A2 subunit of system XC- is essential for m6A reader YTHDC2 to be an endogenous ferroptosis inducer in lung adenocarcinoma

Targeting SLC3A2 subunit of system XC- is essential for m6A reader YTHDC2 to be an endogenous ferroptosis inducer in lung adenocarcinoma

  • Free Radic Biol Med. 2021 May 20;168:25-43. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.03.023.
Lifang Ma 1 Xiao Zhang 2 Keke Yu 3 Xin Xu 2 Tianxiang Chen 4 Yi Shi 5 Yikun Wang 2 Shiyu Qiu 2 Susu Guo 6 Jiangtao Cui 7 Yayou Miao 2 Xiaoting Tian 2 Lutao Du 8 Yongchun Yu 9 Jinjing Xia 10 Jiayi Wang 11
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China; Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
  • 2 Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
  • 3 Department of Bio-bank, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
  • 4 Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
  • 5 Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorder, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
  • 6 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
  • 7 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
  • 8 Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong province, China.
  • 9 Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China. Electronic address: yyc2166@sjtu.edu.cn.
  • 10 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China. Electronic address: summerbluenight@163.com.
  • 11 Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China. Electronic address: karajan2@163.com.
Abstract

The m6A reader YT521-B homology containing 2 (YTHDC2) has been identified to inhibit lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumorigenesis by suppressing solute carrier 7A11 (SLC7A11)-dependent antioxidant function. SLC7A11 is a major functional subunit of system XC-. Inhibition of system XC- can induce Ferroptosis. However, whether suppressing SLC7A11 is sufficient for YTHDC2 to be an endogenous Ferroptosis inducer in LUAD is unknown. Here, we found that induction of YTHDC2 to a high level can induce Ferroptosis in LUAD cells but not in lung and bronchus epithelial cells. In addition to SLC7A11, solute carrier 3A2 (SLC3A2), another subunit of system XC- was equally important for YTHDC2-induced Ferroptosis. YTHDC2 m6A-dependently destabilized Homeo box A13 (HOXA13) mRNA because a potential m6A recognition site was identified within its 3' untranslated region (3'UTR). Interestingly, HOXA13 acted as a transcription factor to stimulate SLC3A2 expression. Thereby, YTHDC2 suppressed SLC3A2 via inhibiting HOXA13 in an m6A-indirect manner. Mouse experiments further confirmed the associations among YTHDC2, SLC3A2 and HOXA13, and demonstrated that SLC3A2 and SLC7A11 were both important for YTHDC2-impaired tumor growth and -induced lipid peroxidation in vivo. Moreover, higher expression of SLC7A11, SLC3A2 and HOXA13 indicate poorer clinical outcome in YTHDC2-suppressed LUAD patients. In conclusion, YTHDC2 is believed to be a powerful endogenous Ferroptosis inducer and targeting SLC3A2 subunit of system XC- is essential for this process. Increasing YTHDC2 is an alternative ferroptosis-based therapy to treat LUAD.

Keywords

HOXA13; METTL3; RNA stability; SLC3A2; Transcriptional regulation; m(6)A RNA methylation.

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