MT1H inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating SLC6A19/TTC39B/ADM2 and activating p53-dependent autophagy

Abstract Metallothioneins (MTs) are a class of cysteine-rich proteins that actively participate in the cellular defense against free radicals. However, owing to the high heterogeneity among different MTs, comprehensive investigations are needed to determine the biological activities and distribution...

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Main Authors: Yamin Xing, Guangyuan Li, Ganggang Li, Jixuan Xu, Ting Zhang, Mengxue Li, Chunxiao Gao, Miaoran Fu, Pengyuan Zheng, Xiufeng Chu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91319-y
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author Yamin Xing
Guangyuan Li
Ganggang Li
Jixuan Xu
Ting Zhang
Mengxue Li
Chunxiao Gao
Miaoran Fu
Pengyuan Zheng
Xiufeng Chu
author_facet Yamin Xing
Guangyuan Li
Ganggang Li
Jixuan Xu
Ting Zhang
Mengxue Li
Chunxiao Gao
Miaoran Fu
Pengyuan Zheng
Xiufeng Chu
author_sort Yamin Xing
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Metallothioneins (MTs) are a class of cysteine-rich proteins that actively participate in the cellular defense against free radicals. However, owing to the high heterogeneity among different MTs, comprehensive investigations are needed to determine the biological activities and distribution patterns of each MT in different tissues. In the present study, ectopic expression of MT1H significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. Mechanistically, MT1H was transported into the nucleus and regulated the expression of key genes involved in nutrient transportation and homeostasis, such as SLC6A19, TTC39B, and ADM2, and thereby activating the p53 and autophagy pathways. Additionally, survival analysis of data from the TCGA and other databases revealed that gastric cancer patients with high expression of MT1H had longer survival. Furthermore, MT1H was undetectable in most gastric cell lines, but its expression was increased upon treatment with dexamethasone (Dexa) and the metal ion zinc. Therefore, MT1H emerges as a valuable tumor suppressor, a biomarker for the prognosis, and a promising therapeutic target in gastric cancer patients.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-b1dd7114f04644f78da897c537a60af82025-08-20T03:41:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-91319-yMT1H inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating SLC6A19/TTC39B/ADM2 and activating p53-dependent autophagyYamin Xing0Guangyuan Li1Ganggang Li2Jixuan Xu3Ting Zhang4Mengxue Li5Chunxiao Gao6Miaoran Fu7Pengyuan Zheng8Xiufeng Chu9Marshall B. J. Medical Research Center, Zhengzhou UniversityMarshall B. J. Medical Research Center, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Gastrointestinal & Thyroid Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityMarshall B. J. Medical Research Center, Zhengzhou UniversityMarshall B. J. Medical Research Center, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityMarshall B. J. Medical Research Center, Zhengzhou UniversityMarshall B. J. Medical Research Center, Zhengzhou UniversityAbstract Metallothioneins (MTs) are a class of cysteine-rich proteins that actively participate in the cellular defense against free radicals. However, owing to the high heterogeneity among different MTs, comprehensive investigations are needed to determine the biological activities and distribution patterns of each MT in different tissues. In the present study, ectopic expression of MT1H significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. Mechanistically, MT1H was transported into the nucleus and regulated the expression of key genes involved in nutrient transportation and homeostasis, such as SLC6A19, TTC39B, and ADM2, and thereby activating the p53 and autophagy pathways. Additionally, survival analysis of data from the TCGA and other databases revealed that gastric cancer patients with high expression of MT1H had longer survival. Furthermore, MT1H was undetectable in most gastric cell lines, but its expression was increased upon treatment with dexamethasone (Dexa) and the metal ion zinc. Therefore, MT1H emerges as a valuable tumor suppressor, a biomarker for the prognosis, and a promising therapeutic target in gastric cancer patients.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91319-yMetallothioneinGastric cancerp53Autophagy
spellingShingle Yamin Xing
Guangyuan Li
Ganggang Li
Jixuan Xu
Ting Zhang
Mengxue Li
Chunxiao Gao
Miaoran Fu
Pengyuan Zheng
Xiufeng Chu
MT1H inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating SLC6A19/TTC39B/ADM2 and activating p53-dependent autophagy
Scientific Reports
Metallothionein
Gastric cancer
p53
Autophagy
title MT1H inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating SLC6A19/TTC39B/ADM2 and activating p53-dependent autophagy
title_full MT1H inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating SLC6A19/TTC39B/ADM2 and activating p53-dependent autophagy
title_fullStr MT1H inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating SLC6A19/TTC39B/ADM2 and activating p53-dependent autophagy
title_full_unstemmed MT1H inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating SLC6A19/TTC39B/ADM2 and activating p53-dependent autophagy
title_short MT1H inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating SLC6A19/TTC39B/ADM2 and activating p53-dependent autophagy
title_sort mt1h inhibits the growth of gastric cancer by regulating slc6a19 ttc39b adm2 and activating p53 dependent autophagy
topic Metallothionein
Gastric cancer
p53
Autophagy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91319-y
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