The expression of UBE2T in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its effects on proliferation,metastasis and radiation resistance

WU Kaili; JIA Ming; LI Zhijun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2024.22.001

Abstract：Objective To investigate the expression of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 T(UBE2T)in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)and its effects on ESCC proliferation,metastasis,and radiation resistance,and the underlying mechanisms.Methods ESCC tissues and paired adjacent tissues were collected for detecting the expression of UBE2T by immunohistochemistry(IHC).The correlation of UBE2T expression with pathological parameters,radiation sensitivity and prognosis of ESCC was analyzed.The ESCC cell line Eca109 was transfected with si-NC or UBE2T siRNA(si-UBE2T).Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 and colony formation assay.Cell metastasis was detected by Transwell assay.Radiosensitivity was measured by CCK-8 assay.Protein expressions of β-catenin(key protein in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway),proliferation-associated protein(Cyclin D1)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with that of paired adjacent tissues,UBE2T was significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues(P＜0.05).The positive expression of UBE2T was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis,tumor-node-metastasis(TNM)staging,and radiation resistance in ESCC patients(P＜0.05).Compared with ESCC patients with a negative expression of UBE2T,those with a positive expression had a worse prognosis(P＜0.05).UBE2T was significantly downregulated in ESCC cells transfected with si-UBE2T group than those transfected with si-NC(P＜0.05).Transfection of si-UBE2T in ESCC cells significantly weakened the proliferative and metastatic abilities(P＜0.05),enhanced radiosensitivity(P＜0.05),and downregulated β-catenin,CyclinD1 and MMP-9(P＜0.05).Conclusion UBE2T promotes the proliferation,metastasis,and radiation resistance of ESCC by activating the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway.