Open AccessN 6 ‐Methyladenosine‐Modified CBX1 Regulates Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Progression Through Heterochromatin Formation and STAT1 Activation
Author(s) -
Zhao Yin,
Huang Shengyan,
Tan Xirong,
Long Liufen,
He Qingmei,
Liang Xiaoyu,
Bai Jiewen,
Li Qingjie,
Lin Jiayi,
Li Yingqin,
Liu Na,
Ma Jun,
Chen Yupei
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202205091
Subject(s) - nasopharyngeal carcinoma , downregulation and upregulation , biology , cancer research , epigenetics , carcinogenesis , tumor progression , histone , prc2 , regulator , microbiology and biotechnology , ezh2 , cancer , medicine , genetics , gene , radiation therapy
Epitranscriptomic remodeling such as N 6 ‐methyladenosine (m 6 A) modification plays a critical role in tumor development. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms connecting m 6 A modification and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) progression. Here, CBX1 is identified, a histone methylation regulator, to be significantly upregulated with m 6 A hypomethylation in metastatic NPC tissues. The m 6 A‐modified CBX1 mRNA transcript is recognized and destabilized by the m 6 A reader YTHDF3. Furthermore, it is revealed that CBX1 promotes NPC cell migration, invasion, and proliferation through transcriptional repression of MAP7 via H3K9me3‐mediated heterochromatin formation. In addition to its oncogenic effect, CBX1 can facilitate immune evasion through IFN‐ γ ‐STAT1 signaling‐mediated PD‐L1 upregulation. Clinically, CBX1 serves as an independent predictor for unfavorable prognosis in NPC patients. The results reveal a crosstalk between epitranscriptomic and epigenetic regulation in NPC progression, and shed light on the functions of CBX1 in tumorigenesis and immunomodulation, which may provide an appealing therapeutic target in NPC.