Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian Endometriosis

Background: Endometriosis is a complicated and enigmatic disease that significantly diminishes the quality of life for women affected by this condition. Increased levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA and telomerase activity have been found in the endometriu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fang Li, Hua Tao, Yini Wei, Ru Meng, Yushan Li, Lifang Nie, Yu Zhang, Jinjun Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/29/12/10.31083/j.fbl2912421
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846100260858888192
author Fang Li
Hua Tao
Yini Wei
Ru Meng
Yushan Li
Lifang Nie
Yu Zhang
Jinjun Chang
author_facet Fang Li
Hua Tao
Yini Wei
Ru Meng
Yushan Li
Lifang Nie
Yu Zhang
Jinjun Chang
author_sort Fang Li
collection DOAJ
description Background: Endometriosis is a complicated and enigmatic disease that significantly diminishes the quality of life for women affected by this condition. Increased levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA and telomerase activity have been found in the endometrium of these patients. However, the precise function of TERT in endometriosis and the associated biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed TERT expression in ectopic endometrial (EC), eutopic endometrial (EU), and normal endometrial (NC) tissues. Human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were used to study the effects of TERT depletion and knockdown on cell behavior. We also assessed methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in TERT transcripts and its impact on mRNA stability and cell functions. Results: The current results indicate that TERT expression is elevated in EC tissue compared to both EU and NC. Depletion of TERT suppressed the proliferation and migration of HESCs, while TERT overexpression had the opposite effect. We found high levels of METTL3-mediated m6A modification in TERT transcripts, particularly in the coding sequence region, resulting in increased translation. However, EC tissues had lower m6A levels due to the downregulation of METTL3. Mechanistically, m6A modification mediated by METTL3 negatively regulates the stability of TERT mRNA in a YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 2 (YTHDF2)-dependent manner. Furthermore, METTL3 negatively regulated the proliferation and migration of HESCs. Conclusions: Together, our study identified a new molecular mechanism that underlies the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Inhibition of m6A modification and of the METTL3/TERT axis may enhance cellular proliferation and migration, thereby contributing to the progression of endometriosis.
format Article
id doaj-art-8dbd2d8d9dca4d959b732cac37d1b0ca
institution Kabale University
issn 2768-6701
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher IMR Press
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
spelling doaj-art-8dbd2d8d9dca4d959b732cac37d1b0ca2024-12-30T11:39:30ZengIMR PressFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark2768-67012024-12-01291242110.31083/j.fbl2912421S2768-6701(24)01513-2Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian EndometriosisFang Li0Hua Tao1Yini Wei2Ru Meng3Yushan Li4Lifang Nie5Yu Zhang6Jinjun Chang7Department of Gynecology, Jincheng Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Jincheng People’s Hospital, 048026 Jincheng, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology, Liuzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, 545001 Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology, Jincheng Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Jincheng People’s Hospital, 048026 Jincheng, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology, Jincheng Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Jincheng People’s Hospital, 048026 Jincheng, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology, Jincheng Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Jincheng People’s Hospital, 048026 Jincheng, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology, Jincheng Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Jincheng People’s Hospital, 048026 Jincheng, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology, Liuzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, 545001 Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology, Jincheng Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Jincheng People’s Hospital, 048026 Jincheng, Shanxi, ChinaBackground: Endometriosis is a complicated and enigmatic disease that significantly diminishes the quality of life for women affected by this condition. Increased levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA and telomerase activity have been found in the endometrium of these patients. However, the precise function of TERT in endometriosis and the associated biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed TERT expression in ectopic endometrial (EC), eutopic endometrial (EU), and normal endometrial (NC) tissues. Human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were used to study the effects of TERT depletion and knockdown on cell behavior. We also assessed methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in TERT transcripts and its impact on mRNA stability and cell functions. Results: The current results indicate that TERT expression is elevated in EC tissue compared to both EU and NC. Depletion of TERT suppressed the proliferation and migration of HESCs, while TERT overexpression had the opposite effect. We found high levels of METTL3-mediated m6A modification in TERT transcripts, particularly in the coding sequence region, resulting in increased translation. However, EC tissues had lower m6A levels due to the downregulation of METTL3. Mechanistically, m6A modification mediated by METTL3 negatively regulates the stability of TERT mRNA in a YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 2 (YTHDF2)-dependent manner. Furthermore, METTL3 negatively regulated the proliferation and migration of HESCs. Conclusions: Together, our study identified a new molecular mechanism that underlies the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Inhibition of m6A modification and of the METTL3/TERT axis may enhance cellular proliferation and migration, thereby contributing to the progression of endometriosis.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/29/12/10.31083/j.fbl2912421endometriosistertmettl3ythdf2
spellingShingle Fang Li
Hua Tao
Yini Wei
Ru Meng
Yushan Li
Lifang Nie
Yu Zhang
Jinjun Chang
Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian Endometriosis
Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
endometriosis
tert
mettl3
ythdf2
title Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian Endometriosis
title_full Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian Endometriosis
title_fullStr Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian Endometriosis
title_full_unstemmed Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian Endometriosis
title_short Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian Endometriosis
title_sort downregulated mettl3 accumulates tert expression that promote the progression of ovarian endometriosis
topic endometriosis
tert
mettl3
ythdf2
url https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/29/12/10.31083/j.fbl2912421
work_keys_str_mv AT fangli downregulatedmettl3accumulatestertexpressionthatpromotetheprogressionofovarianendometriosis
AT huatao downregulatedmettl3accumulatestertexpressionthatpromotetheprogressionofovarianendometriosis
AT yiniwei downregulatedmettl3accumulatestertexpressionthatpromotetheprogressionofovarianendometriosis
AT rumeng downregulatedmettl3accumulatestertexpressionthatpromotetheprogressionofovarianendometriosis
AT yushanli downregulatedmettl3accumulatestertexpressionthatpromotetheprogressionofovarianendometriosis
AT lifangnie downregulatedmettl3accumulatestertexpressionthatpromotetheprogressionofovarianendometriosis
AT yuzhang downregulatedmettl3accumulatestertexpressionthatpromotetheprogressionofovarianendometriosis
AT jinjunchang downregulatedmettl3accumulatestertexpressionthatpromotetheprogressionofovarianendometriosis