Inhibiting the m6A Reader IGF2BP3 Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth via Regulating PLAGL2 mRNA Stabilization

Abstract

Background: The oncogene IGF2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) could function as an m⁶A reader in stabilizing many tumor-associated genes' mRNAs. However, the relevant oncogenic mechanism by which IGF2BP3 promotes ovarian cancer growth is largely unknown.

Methods: The IGF2BP3 expression in ovarian cancer was identified by retrieving the datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). GEO datasets evaluated the relevant signaling pathways in IGF2BP3 knockdown in ovarian cancer cells. IGF2BP3 positive correlation gene in TCGA was calculated. MTS proliferation assay was identified in IGF2BP3 knockdown and rescued by PLAG1 like zinc finger 2 (PLAGL2) overexpression in ES-2 and SKOV3 cells. Bioinformatic analysis and RIP-qPCR were predicted and identified the IGF2BP3 binding site and PLAGL2 mRNA stability. The animal experiment identified IGF2BP3 proliferation inhibition.

Results: IGF2BP3 was upregulated in ovarian cancer tissue and cells. The depletion of IGF2BP3 in ovarian cancer cells leads to an enhancement of the pathway involved in cellular proliferation and mRNA stability. IGF2BP3 positive correlation suppressed pro-proliferation gene PLAGL2. IGF2BP3 knockdown suppressed ovarian cancer cell proliferation and was rescued by PLAGL2 overexpression. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that IGF2BP3 could bind to 3'-UTR of PLAGL2 to maintain the mRNA stability. Further, in in vivo experiments, IGF2BP3 knockdown suppressed ovarian cancer cell proliferation via inhibiting PLAGL2 expression.

Conclusion: All of these indicate that PLAGL2 mediates the main function of IGF2BP3 knockdown on ovarian cancer proliferation inhibition through mRNA stability regulation.

Keywords: IGF2BP3; Ovarian cancer; PLAGL2; m6A methylation; mRNA stability.