Correlation Analysis Of Proliferation And Migration Promoted By ZCCHC4 In Gastric Cancer And Immune Infiltration

Background:N6-methyladenine methylation(m6A)is the most prevalent modification on higher biological RNAs and has been extensively studied and shown to play a key role in many cellular processes.The RNA-binding protein ZCCHC4 is a novel m6 A methyltransferase that predominantly methylates human 28 S r RNA and interacts with some m RNAs.However,the potential role of ZCCHC4 in the development of gastric cancer and its relationship with immune infiltration of gastric cancer are still unclear.Methods:In this study,the expression level and prognosis correlation of ZCCHC4 in gastric cancer were explored by using TCGA,TIMMER,Kaplan-Meier Plotter and other databases.In addition,we used the TIMER database and Ciber Sort algorithm to explore the correlation between the expression level of ZCCHC4 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells.Then we constructed a prognostic risk model based on ZCCHC4-related immune modulator genes to accurately predict the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.Finally,we further confirmed the upregulation of ZCCHC4 in gastric cancer by immunohistochemistry,RT-q PCR,and Western blotting.The biological function of ZCCHC4 in the development of gastric cancer was verified by transwell migration,colony formation,and subcutaneously implanted tumor in nude mice.Results:Analysis of TCGA and TIMMER databases revealed that the expression level of ZCCHC4 was elevated in gastric cancer patients and was associated with the prognosis of those patients.Moreover,immunohistochemistry,RT-q PCR,and Western blotting confirmed the elevated expression level of ZCCHC4 in clinical tumor specimens and cell lines.Highly expressed ZCCHC4 may be associated with nine tumor-infiltrating immune cells.In addition,we constructed a prognostic risk model using ZCCHC4-related immune regulatory genes,which can accurately and independently predict patient prognosis.Finally,we confirmed that the overexpression of ZCCHC4 can promote the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cell lines through experiments on transwell migration,colony formation,and subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice.Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that the up-regulation of ZCCHC4 expression levels can promote the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer,which are closely related to the prognosis.Therefore,ZCCHC4 could be a gastric cancer prognostic biomarker and a potential target for immunotherapy.