ERP29 regulates the proliferation of endometrial carcinoma via M6A modification

Aims: Endoplasmic reticulum protein 29 (ERP29) is crucial for endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). M6A plays an important role in the progression of endometrial Cancer (EC). The study investigated the role of ERS-related gene (ERP29) and m6A in EC.

Materials and methods: We screened ERS-related genes based on the GEO dataset, GSEA dataset and TCGA-UCEC database using WGCNA and two machine learning algorithms. The m6A-related GEO dataset was employed to identify the ERS-related hub genes with m6A. Expression of hub genes in different cell types were visualize through scRNA-seq data analyzing. Using qPCR, Western blot, and Immunohistochemical assays to detect the expression of ERP29, the effect of ERP29 on Cancer cell proliferation was investigated through CCK8, EdU and clone formation experiments. M6A modifications were studied using m6A Dot blot and MeRIP-qPCR. Finally, we conducted rescue experiments.

Key findings: Ten ERS-related hub genes with m6A were identified. ERP29 is highly expressed in EC. ERP29 knockdown inhibits EC cell proliferation. METTL3 overexpression increases the ERP29 mRNA m6A and decreases the expression of ERP29. Cycloleucine (Cyc), a nucleic acid methylation inhibitor, treatment reduces ERP29 mRNA m6A and increases the expression of ERP29. Cyc rescue the low expression of ERP29 caused by overexpression of METTL3 through m6A. ERP29 knockdown rescued the increased proliferation of EC cells caused by low m6A.

Significance: ERP29 is highly expressed in EC. m6A regulates ERP29 expression and affects the proliferation of endometrial Cancer cells. This represents the premise for applying ERP29 and m6A modifications in diagnosing and treating EC.

ERP29; Endometrial carcinoma; Endoplasmic reticulum stress; Proliferation; m6A.