Expression and role of methyltransferase 3 in oral malignant transformation

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the expression and role of methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) in oral malignant transformation.

Materials and methods

Immunohistochemical method was used to investigate the expression of METTL3 in the human oral malignant transformation. Bioinformatics analysis was used to explore the role of METTL3 in oral malignant transformation. Oral cancer animal model was used to verify the expression trend of METTL3 in oral malignant transformation. Knockdown of METTL3 expression in human oral mucosal precancerous lesion cells was performed to explore the METTL3 effect on proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle.

Results

METTL3 expression was significantly up-regulated in the human oral malignant transformation. Moreover, METTL3 was related to the pathway of “Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction.” In addition, METTL3 expression was also significantly up-regulated in the hamster oral malignant transformation. Finally, the proliferation and migration abilities of human oral mucosal precancerous lesion cells were inhibited after METTL3 knockdown.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we found that METTL3 was up-regulated in oral malignant transformation, and the role may relate to the pathway of “Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction.”