High expression of NSUN5 promotes cell proliferation via cell cycle regulation in colorectal cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• NSUN5, a cytosine-5 RNA methyltransferase, has a poorly understood role in cancer.
• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health concern requiring novel therapeutic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of NSUN5 in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which NSUN5 influences CRC cell behavior and tumor growth.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of TCGA data for NSUN5 expression differences in CRC tissues versus normal tissues.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT-PCR for NSUN5 expression detection in tissues and cell lines.
• In vitro assays (cell proliferation, flow cytometry, β-galactosidase staining) and in vivo (subcutaneous tumor model) experiments.
• Western blot analysis for cell-cycle related proteins and GSEA for mechanism exploration.

Main Results:

• NSUN5 expression is significantly upregulated in CRC tumor tissues and cells, correlating with advanced stages (III, IV).
• Overexpression of NSUN5 promotes CRC cell proliferation, induces cell cycle arrest in vitro, and enhances tumor growth in vivo.
• Knockdown of NSUN5 affects cell cycle regulators, including Rb, CDK4, CDK6, p-Rb, and CCNE1, suggesting a role in cell cycle control.

Conclusions:

• NSUN5 acts as a promoter in colorectal cancer development.
• NSUN5 influences CRC progression primarily through the regulation of the cell cycle.
• NSUN5 represents a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer treatment.