High Wilms' tumor 1 associating protein expression predicts poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia and regulates m6A methylation of MYC mRNA

Purpose Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogenous disease and the survival of AML patients is largely attributed to the improvement of supportive treatment. Wilms' tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) is a nuclear protein functions in many physiological and pathological processes. Although its expression and function in many malignant diseases have been reported, its prognostic and epigenetic roles in AML are largely unknown. Methods Peripheral blood or bone marrow samples were collected from AML patients. The WTAP expression was detected by western blot. WTAP expression level and patients clinical features were analyzed using statistical methods. WTAP knockdown AML cells were constructed. The experiments on proliferation, tumorigenic ability, cell cycle, and apoptosis were performed. Transcriptome sequencing was performed and analyzed. M(6)A methylation level was measured and m(6)A-RIP was performed to quantify m(6)A methylation level of MYC mRNA. RNA stability assay was performed to measure the half-life of mRNA. Results WTAP was overexpressed in AML patients and was an independent poor-risk factor in AML (p = 0.0140). Moreover, we found that WTAP regulated proliferation, tumorigenesis, cell cycle, and differentiation of AML cells. Furthermore, WTAP made AML cells resistant to daunorubicin. In further investigations, m(6)A methylation level was downregulated when knocking down WTAP, and c-Myc was upregulated due to the decreased m(6)A methylation of MYC mRNA. Conclusion High WTAP expression predicts poor prognosis in AML and WTAP plays an epigenetic role in AML.

Automated summary

This study found that high expression of WTAP in AML patients is associated with poor prognosis, and WTAP plays an epigenetic role in AML by regulating cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, cell cycle, and differentiation. The research also indicated that WTAP makes AML cells resistant to daunorubicin.