PIWI interacting RNA-13643 contributes to papillary thyroid cancer development through acting as a novel oncogene by facilitating PRMT1 mediated GLI1 methylation

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 1867; no. 11; p. 130453
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhongbo, Liu, Ning
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2023
• Subjects: apoptosis; cadherins; carcinogenesis; carcinoma; cell cycle; cell proliferation; flow cytometry; GLI1; lysine; methylation; oncogenes; Papillary thyroid carcinoma; patients; piR-13643; PIWIL1; PRMT1; protein synthesis; RNA; thyroid neoplasms; transfection; type I protein arginine methyltransferase; vimentin; Western blotting; xenotransplantation; piR-13643; PIWIL1; GLI1; PRMT1; Papillary thyroid carcinoma
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130453

Recently, aberrant expression of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) has been discovered in a variety of cancer cells. However, the roles of PIWI proteins and piRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are still elusive. RT-qPCR and Northern blotting were used to evaluate piR-13643 levels in PTC and para-carcinoma tissues, as well as in PTC cell lines. piR-13643 mimic and piR-13643 inhibitor were transfected into K-1 and B-CPAP cells. CCK-8, Transwell, annexin V-FITC/PI, flow cytometry and Western blot assays were performed to measure cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, cell cycle and E-cadherin and Vimentin proteins, respectively. Total RNA from B-CPAP cells was pulled down with PIWIL1, PIWIL2, or PIWIL3 specific antibodies or IgG as a control, respectively, followed by detection of piR-13643 expression with RT-qPCR. Immunoblotting of PRMT1 was detected in piR-13643 / PIWIL1 complex immune-precipitates by Co-IP assay. Subsequently, PRMT1 protein expression was detected by stably transfection of Flag tagged GLI1 (Flag-GLI1) into B-CPAP cells. Methylation assay with PRMT1 and wild-type or R597 lysine (R597K)-mutant GLI1. Then rescue experiments were applied to explore effects of piR-13643 and GLI1 on the malignant behavior of PTC cells. B-CPAP cells transfected with piR-13643 inhibitor were subcutaneously injected into nude mice to evaluate the effect of piR-13643 knockdown on the xenograft tumor growth of PTC. piR-13643 was elevated in PTC patient specimens and cell lines. piR-13643 overexpression facilitated cell proliferation, invasion and Vimentin level, and restrained apoptosis and E-cadherin expression, whereas piR-13643 knockdown showed the opposite results. Mechanically, piR-13643 could bind to PIWIL1 to form the PIWIL1/piR-13643 complex, and PRMT1 enhanced GLI1 transcription by methylating GLI1 at R597. Further, PIWIL1/piR-13643 promoted PRMT1-mediated GLI1 methylation. GLI1 knockdown countered the effects of piR-13643 mimic on cell malignant behaviors. piR-13643 knockdown preeminently prevented the xenograft tumor growth of PTC in vivo. This study confirmed that piR-13643 facilitates PTC malignant behaviors in vitro and in vivo by promoting PRMT1-mediated GLI1 methylation via forming a complex with PIWIL1, which may provide a novel insight for PTC treatment. •piR-13643 indicated the unfavorable prognosis of PTC patients•piR-13643 contributes to the proliferation and invasion of PTC cells•PIWI interacting RNAs piR-13643 promoted PRMT1-mediated GLI1 methylation•GLI1 knockdown could antagonize the facilitative effect of piR-13,643 on the malignant behavior of PTC cells•piR-13,643 knock-down restrained xenograft tumor development in mice