Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 enhanced melanoma migration through regulation of AKT1 and RELA expression

Exp Dermatol. 2024 Jan;33(1):e15015. doi: 10.1111/exd.15015.

Abstract

IMP-3 expression is a poor prognostic factor of melanomas and it promotes melanoma cell migration and invasion by a pathway modulating HMGA2 mRNA expression. We tried to identify other putative targets of IMP-3. We identified putative IMP-3-binding RNAs, including AKT1, MAPK3, RB1 and RELA, by RNA immunoprecipitation coupled with next-generation sequencing. IMP-3 overexpression increased AKT and RELA levels in MeWo cells. siRNAs against AKT1 and RELA inhibited MeWo/Full-length IMP-3 cell migration. IMP-3 knockdown of A2058 cells decreased AKT1 and RELA expression and lowered migration ability. Co-transfection of A2058 cells with AKT1- or RELA-expressing plasmids with IMP-3 siRNA restored the inhibitory effects of IMP-3 knockdown on migration. HMGA2 did not influence AKT1 and RELA expression in melanoma cells. Human melanoma samples with high IMP-3 levels also showed high HMGA2, AKT1 and RELA expression. Our results show that IMP-3 enhances melanoma cell migration through the regulation of the AKT1 and RELA axis.

Keywords: AKT1; HMGA2; IMP-3; RELA; melanoma.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Melanoma* / genetics
  • Melanoma* / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt* / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt* / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins* / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins* / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor RelA* / genetics
  • Transcription Factor RelA* / metabolism

Substances

  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • RELA protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • IGF2BP3 protein, human
  • RNA-Binding Proteins