ASMTL-AS1 impedes the malignant progression of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating SAT1 to promote ferroptosis

Pathol Int. 2021 Nov;71(11):741-751. doi: 10.1111/pin.13158. Epub 2021 Oct 18.

Abstract

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is difficult to cureradically. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in LUAD are a hotspot in molecular research, however, the role of lncRNA ASMTL-AS1 in LUAD is still unknown. Our study explores the role and mechanisms of ASMTL-AS1 in LUAD. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR or western blot was utilized to analyze the expression of RNAs or proteins. The influences of ASMTL-AS1 and SAT1 on LUAD cells were analyzed by functional assays. Biological instruments were applied to observe ferroptosis-related markers. In vivo assays were performed to uncover the impact of ASMTL-AS1 on LUAD. Moreover, mechanism assays were done to confirm the relationship among ASMTL-AS1, SAT1 and U2AF2. Results showed that ASMTL-AS1 was down-regulated in LUAD cells and ASMTL-AS1 up-regulation resulted in retarded LUAD cell and xenograft tumor growth along with stimulated ferroptosis. ASMTL-AS1 recruited U2AF2 to stabilize SAT1 mRNA. Furthermore, SAT1 exerted a cancer suppressor role in LUAD cells. In conclusion, we first demonstrated that ASMTL-AS1 positively regulated SAT1 to promote ferroptosis and could stabilize SAT1 mRNA via recruiting U2AF2, shedding a light on a novel molecular mechanism in LUAD progression.

Keywords: ASMTL-AS1; SAT1; U2AF2; ferroptosis; lung adenocarcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Acetyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / pathology*
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Progression
  • Down-Regulation
  • Ferroptosis*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • ASMTL protein, human
  • Methyltransferases
  • Acetyltransferases
  • diamine N-acetyltransferase