Ma X, Zhao D, Liu S, Zuo J, Wang W, Wang F, Li Y, Ding Z, Wang J, Wang X. FERMT2 upregulation in CAFs enhances EMT of OSCC and M2 macrophage polarization.
Oral Dis 2024;
30:991-1003. [PMID:
37357349 DOI:
10.1111/odi.14610]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
FERMT2 upregulation was associated with malignant tumor behaviors, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT). This study aimed to characterize the expression profile of FERMT2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to explore its involvement in the tumor microenvironment sculptured by oral cancer-associated fibroblasts (OCAFs).
MATERIALS
Previous bulk-seq (TCGA-HNSC) and single-cell RNA-seq data sets were retrieved for bioinformatic analysis. Human OSCC lines SCC15 and CAL27, primary normal oral fibroblasts (NOFs), OCAFs, and THP-1 cells were used for intro studies.
RESULTS
FERMT2 expression was significantly higher in CAFs compared with OSCC tumor cells and normal fibroblasts. Higher FERMT2 expression might independently predict unfavorable disease-specific survival (DSS) in patients with OSCC. Knockdown of FERMT2 suppressed the expression and secretion of IGFBP7, SPARC, TIMP3, COL4A1, and IGFBP4 in OCAFs. OCAFs with FERMT2 knockdown had significantly weakened capability to induce the invasion of OSCC cells and the expression of mesenchymal markers. FERMT2 knockdown impaired the inducing effect of OCAFs on the migration of M0 macrophages and the expression of M2 macrophage markers.
CONCLUSIONS
FERMT2 could modulate the production and secretion of IGFBP7, SPARC, COL4A1, and IGFBP4 in OCAFs, thereby inducing the EMT of OSCC and M2 macrophage polarization.
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