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Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
Published on: February 8, 2020
Identification of METTL14 in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma Using Bioinformatics Analysis
Qian Wang1, Hao Zhang2, Quanbing Chen3
1Department of Oncology Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
The kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) with poor prognosis is the main histological subtype of the renal cell carcinoma, accounting for 80-90% of patients. Currently, the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) epitranscriptional modification draws much attention. The m6A RNA modification, the most plentiful internal modification of mRNAs and noncoding RNAs in the majority of eukaryotes, regulates mRNAs at different levels and is involved in disease occurrence and progression. The GTExPortal and TCGAportal were applied to investigate the METTL14 mRNA expression in different tissues and KIRC stages. The Human Protein Atlas was used to verify the location of METTL14 in KIRC tissues. The main microRNAs (miRNAs) related to KIRC were analyzed using OncoLnc and starBase, while corresponding circular RNAs (circRNAs) interacting with miRNAs were predicted via circBank; then, the METTL14-miRNA-circRNA interaction network was established. The level of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) mRNA was significantly lower in KIRC tissues compared with normal kidney tissues, which was relative to clinical and pathological stages. circRNAs may regulate METTL14 mRNA as miRNAs sponge to affect the KIRC progression. METTL14 mRNA is likely to regulate PTEN mRNA expression via changing its m6A RNA modification level. METTL14 mRNA expression negatively correlated with the KIRC stages and positively correlated with KIRC patients' overall survival, which has great potential to serve as a clinical biomarker in KIRC.
Insights
Methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) mRNA is downregulated in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), correlating with advanced stages. Lower METTL14 expression indicates poorer patient survival, suggesting its potential as a KIRC biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is a major subtype of renal cell carcinoma with poor prognosis.
- N6-methyladenosine (m6A) epitranscriptional modification is crucial in regulating gene expression and is implicated in disease progression.
- METTL14, a key enzyme in m6A modification, warrants investigation in KIRC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of METTL14 mRNA in KIRC tissues and its correlation with clinical and pathological features.
- To explore the potential regulatory network involving METTL14, microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in KIRC.
- To evaluate METTL14 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for KIRC.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of METTL14 mRNA expression using GTExPortal and TCGAportal.
- Verification of METTL14 protein localization in KIRC tissues via Human Protein Atlas.
- Identification of KIRC-related miRNAs using OncoLnc and starBase.
- Prediction of miRNA-interacting circRNAs using circBank.
- Construction of a METTL14-miRNA-circRNA interaction network.
Main Results:
- METTL14 mRNA expression was significantly lower in KIRC tissues compared to normal kidney tissues.
- Reduced METTL14 mRNA levels correlated with advanced clinical and pathological stages of KIRC.
- A potential regulatory network suggests circRNAs may act as miRNA sponges to influence METTL14 expression and KIRC progression.
- METTL14 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with KIRC stage and positively correlated with overall patient survival.
Conclusions:
- METTL14 mRNA is downregulated in KIRC and its expression level is associated with disease progression.
- circRNAs may play a role in regulating METTL14 expression through miRNA sponging in KIRC.
- METTL14 has significant potential as a clinical biomarker for KIRC diagnosis and prognosis.

