Helicobacter pylori CagA elevates FTO to induce gastric cancer progression via a “hit‐and‐run” paradigm

Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection contributes significantly to gastric cancer (GC) progression. The intrinsic mechanisms of H. pylori‐host interactions and their role in promoting GC progression need further investigation. In this study, we explored the potential role of...

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Main Authors: Bing He, Yiyang Hu, Yuyun Wu, Chao Wang, Limin Gao, Chunli Gong, Zhibin Li, Nannan Gao, Huan Yang, Yufeng Xiao, Shiming Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Cancer Communications
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70004
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author Bing He
Yiyang Hu
Yuyun Wu
Chao Wang
Limin Gao
Chunli Gong
Zhibin Li
Nannan Gao
Huan Yang
Yufeng Xiao
Shiming Yang
author_facet Bing He
Yiyang Hu
Yuyun Wu
Chao Wang
Limin Gao
Chunli Gong
Zhibin Li
Nannan Gao
Huan Yang
Yufeng Xiao
Shiming Yang
author_sort Bing He
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection contributes significantly to gastric cancer (GC) progression. The intrinsic mechanisms of H. pylori‐host interactions and their role in promoting GC progression need further investigation. In this study, we explored the potential role of fat mass and obesity‐associated protein (FTO) in mediating Cytotoxin‐associated gene A (CagA)‐induced GC progression. Methods The effects of H. pylori infection on N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification were evaluated in both human samples and GC cell lines. The function of FTO in the progression of GC was elucidated through in vitro and in vivo studies. A series of techniques, including methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, RNA sequencing, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, were utilized to investigate the mechanism by which FTO mediates the capacity of cagA‐positive H. pylori to promote GC progression. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of the FTO inhibitor meclofenamic acid (MA) in impeding GC progression was evaluated across GC cells, animal models, and human GC organoids. Results Infection with cagA‐positive H. pylori upregulated the expression of FTO, which was essential for CagA‐mediated GC metastasis and significantly associated with a poor prognosis in GC patients. Mechanistically, CagA delivered by H. pylori enhanced FTO transcription via Jun proto‐oncogene. Elevated FTO induced demethylation of m6A and inhibited the degradation of heparin‐binding EGF‐like growth factor (HBEGF), thereby facilitating the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in GC cells. Interestingly, eradication of H. pylori did not fully reverse the increases in FTO and HBEGF levels induced by cagA‐positive H. pylori. However, treatment with a combination of antibiotics and MA substantially inhibited cagA‐positive H. pylori‐induced EMT and prevented GC metastasis. Conclusion Our study revealed that FTO mediates the “hit‐and‐run” mechanism of CagA‐induced GC progression, which suggests that the therapeutic targeting of FTO could offer a promising approach to the prevention of CagA‐induced cancer progression.
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spelling doaj-art-4486a0c4c7f140ad81d213bf860eb5a62025-08-20T02:57:29ZengWileyCancer Communications2523-35482025-05-0145560863110.1002/cac2.70004Helicobacter pylori CagA elevates FTO to induce gastric cancer progression via a “hit‐and‐run” paradigmBing He0Yiyang Hu1Yuyun Wu2Chao Wang3Limin Gao4Chunli Gong5Zhibin Li6Nannan Gao7Huan Yang8Yufeng Xiao9Shiming Yang10Department of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of OncologyThe General Hospital of Western Theater CommandChengduSichuanP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaDepartment of GastroenterologyXinqiao HospitalArmy Military Medical UniversityChongqingP. R. ChinaAbstract Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection contributes significantly to gastric cancer (GC) progression. The intrinsic mechanisms of H. pylori‐host interactions and their role in promoting GC progression need further investigation. In this study, we explored the potential role of fat mass and obesity‐associated protein (FTO) in mediating Cytotoxin‐associated gene A (CagA)‐induced GC progression. Methods The effects of H. pylori infection on N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification were evaluated in both human samples and GC cell lines. The function of FTO in the progression of GC was elucidated through in vitro and in vivo studies. A series of techniques, including methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, RNA sequencing, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, were utilized to investigate the mechanism by which FTO mediates the capacity of cagA‐positive H. pylori to promote GC progression. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of the FTO inhibitor meclofenamic acid (MA) in impeding GC progression was evaluated across GC cells, animal models, and human GC organoids. Results Infection with cagA‐positive H. pylori upregulated the expression of FTO, which was essential for CagA‐mediated GC metastasis and significantly associated with a poor prognosis in GC patients. Mechanistically, CagA delivered by H. pylori enhanced FTO transcription via Jun proto‐oncogene. Elevated FTO induced demethylation of m6A and inhibited the degradation of heparin‐binding EGF‐like growth factor (HBEGF), thereby facilitating the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in GC cells. Interestingly, eradication of H. pylori did not fully reverse the increases in FTO and HBEGF levels induced by cagA‐positive H. pylori. However, treatment with a combination of antibiotics and MA substantially inhibited cagA‐positive H. pylori‐induced EMT and prevented GC metastasis. Conclusion Our study revealed that FTO mediates the “hit‐and‐run” mechanism of CagA‐induced GC progression, which suggests that the therapeutic targeting of FTO could offer a promising approach to the prevention of CagA‐induced cancer progression.https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70004Epithelial‐Mesenchymal transitionFTOGastric cancerHelicobacter pylorim6A modification
spellingShingle Bing He
Yiyang Hu
Yuyun Wu
Chao Wang
Limin Gao
Chunli Gong
Zhibin Li
Nannan Gao
Huan Yang
Yufeng Xiao
Shiming Yang
Helicobacter pylori CagA elevates FTO to induce gastric cancer progression via a “hit‐and‐run” paradigm
Cancer Communications
Epithelial‐Mesenchymal transition
FTO
Gastric cancer
Helicobacter pylori
m6A modification
title Helicobacter pylori CagA elevates FTO to induce gastric cancer progression via a “hit‐and‐run” paradigm
title_full Helicobacter pylori CagA elevates FTO to induce gastric cancer progression via a “hit‐and‐run” paradigm
title_fullStr Helicobacter pylori CagA elevates FTO to induce gastric cancer progression via a “hit‐and‐run” paradigm
title_full_unstemmed Helicobacter pylori CagA elevates FTO to induce gastric cancer progression via a “hit‐and‐run” paradigm
title_short Helicobacter pylori CagA elevates FTO to induce gastric cancer progression via a “hit‐and‐run” paradigm
title_sort helicobacter pylori caga elevates fto to induce gastric cancer progression via a hit and run paradigm
topic Epithelial‐Mesenchymal transition
FTO
Gastric cancer
Helicobacter pylori
m6A modification
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cac2.70004
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