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Epigenetic Activation of Tensin 4 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression
Haejeong Heo1,2, Hee-Jin Kim1, Keeok Haam1
1Aging Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea.
Molecules and Cells
|March 10, 2023
Summary
Tensin 4 (TNS4) is upregulated in gastric cancer (GC) due to hypomethylation, promoting tumor growth and migration. Targeting TNS4 may offer new gastric cancer treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Gastric cancer (GC) development involves genetic and epigenetic alterations, often linked to chronic inflammation and factors like *Helicobacter pylori* infection.
- Aberrant DNA methylation in gastric mucosa contributes to GC progression.
- Tensin 4 (TNS4) is a focal adhesion protein implicated in cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Tensin 4 (TNS4) in gastric cancer (GC) development and progression.
- To elucidate the epigenetic mechanism regulating TNS4 expression in GC.
- To explore TNS4 as a potential therapeutic target for GC.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) on 174 paired GC tumor and adjacent normal tissues.
- Cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation assays in GC cell lines with manipulated TNS4 expression.
- Analysis of TNS4 promoter methylation and correlation with TNS4 expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data.
Main Results:
- TNS4 was found to be upregulated in GC tissues, even at early stages.
- TNS4 depletion reduced proliferation and migration in GC cells; ectopic expression increased these processes.
- Hypomethylation of the TNS4 promoter region correlated with TNS4 upregulation in GC cell lines and tumors.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic hypomethylation drives TNS4 transcriptional activation in gastric cancer.
- TNS4 plays a significant role in GC development and progression by promoting cell proliferation and migration.
- TNS4 represents a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.
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