Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: Targeting chaperone-mediated autophagy inhibits properties of glioblastoma stem cells and restores anti-tumor immunity

doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67119-3

Figure Lengend Snippet: Assessment of LAMP2A stability in lysosomes isolated from indicated GSCs and DGCs ( a ), as well as GSC M83 cells expressing sh-C or sh-MST4 ( h ). Lysosomes were incubated at 0 °C for 10 min with or without protease inhibitor cocktail (PI) to inhibit lysosomal protease activity, followed by pelleting at indicated time points, and subsequent IB analysis for LAMP2A and LAMP1 densitometric quantification. b, i Densitometric quantification of LAMP2A protein level is shown. n = 3 independent experiments. c IP-IB analyses for indicated proteins in GSCs and DGCs. WCL, whole-cell lysates. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was used as an isotype control. d A list of top LAMP2A-associated proteins identified through LAMP2A immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometric analysis. We marked the protein of interest in red font. e Identification of MST4 peptide among LAMP2A-interacting proteins precipitated from GSCs via mass spectrometry. y-ions generated from C-terminal (red), b-ions generated from N-terminal (blue), other fragments (black). f, j, l IP-IB analyses in GSC M83 cells with indicated modifications. g, m IP-IB analyses for indicated proteins in WCL and lysosomal fractions of GSCs with indicated modifications. β-actin and LAMP1 served as loading controls for WCL and lysosomal samples, respectively. k Purified lysosomal membranes from the indicated GSC M83 cells were analyzed using native continuous gel electrophoresis and subjected to IB detection for LAMP2A. n, o Representative images ( n ) and quantification ( o ) of CMA activity detection by KFERQ puncta numbers in GSC M83 and 456 cells with indicated modifications. n = 40 randomly selected cells. Scale bar, 10 μm. p In vitro binding and uptake assay of GAPDH by the lysosome in GSC M83 and 456 cells with indicated modifications. Protease inhibitor cocktail (PI) was used to inhibit lysosomal protease activity. n = 3 independent experiments. Data are presented as the means ± S.E.M. All the experiments showed consistent results in at least three independent biological replicates. Statistical significance was assessed using two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s multiple comparisons test ( b, i ) or one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test ( o, p ). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Article Snippet: For immune checkpoint blockade, mice received intracranial administrations of the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody (10 mg/kg; BE0146; Bio X cell) or IgG2a (10 mg/kg; BE0085; Bio X Cell) on the 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th day after implantation.

Techniques: Isolation, Expressing, Incubation, Protease Inhibitor, Activity Assay, Control, Immunoprecipitation, Mass Spectrometry, Generated, Purification, Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis, In Vitro, Binding Assay

Journal: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Article Title: METTL3 promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment in bladder cancer via m6A-dependent CXCL5/CCL5 regulation

doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-011108

Figure Lengend Snippet: METTL3 is highly expressed in tumors and is associated with an immunosuppressive microenvironment. (A) Flowchart for screening key N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification genes related to immunotherapy response in bladder cancer (BLCA). (B) Pearson correlation analysis bar chart of the 10 target genes with the percentage of complete response (CR) patients to immunotherapy in the IMvigor210 cohort, and a scatter plot of METTL3 expression level versus CR patient percentage. (C) Proportion of immunotherapy responses among different Lund subtypes in the IMvigor210 cohort. (D) Violin plot of METTL3 expression levels in bladder tissues of patients with different Lund subtypes. (E–F) Expression and statistical analysis of METTL3 in normal and tumor cells from single-cell sequencing of clinical bladder cancer samples. Histogram of METTL3 expression levels in cancer tissues versus adjacent normal tissues in (G) non-paired samples and (H) paired samples from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) bladder cancer cohort. (I) Representative immunohistochemistry staining of METTL3 in clinical BLCA samples. (J–K) Scatter plots of METTL3 expression levels with CD8+T cell, cytotoxic cell, and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) infiltration levels based on ssGSEA algorithm and TIMER V.2.0 database. (L) Statistical plot of METTL3 expression levels and immune scores in BLCA from the CAMOIP database. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.

Article Snippet: Anti-mouse Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1) antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0146), anti-mouse CD8α antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0061), and anti-mouse Gr-1 antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0075) were also dissolved in PBS and administered intraperitoneally.

Techniques: Modification, Expressing, Sequencing, Immunohistochemistry, Staining, Derivative Assay

Journal: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Article Title: METTL3 promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment in bladder cancer via m6A-dependent CXCL5/CCL5 regulation

doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-011108

Figure Lengend Snippet: METTL3 regulates bladder cancer progression by chemotactic CD8+T cell infiltration through the IGF2BP1-AHR-CCL5 axis. (A) Venn diagram illustrating the screening process for key transcription factors regulated by METTL3-mediated m6A modification and involved in CCL5 transcription. (B) Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis of AHR and CCL5 mRNA expression levels after AHR knockdown in MB49 cells. (C) Assessment of CCL5 mRNA expression levels after overexpression of METTL3 and/or knockdown of AHR in MB49 cells. (D) Schematic representation of AHR binding sites within the CCL5 promoter region as predicted by JASPAR. (E) CHIP-qPCR analysis of AHR enrichment at the CCL5 promoter region. (F) mRNA and (G) protein expression levels of AHR after METTL3 knockdown in MB49 cells. (H) Peak plot of m6A modification sites in AHR in MB49 cells. (I) MeRIP-qPCR analysis showing changes in AHR m6A modification levels following METTL3 knockdown in MB49 cells. (J) RIP-qPCR analysis of METTL3 enrichment in AHR mRNA in MB49 cells. (K) MeRIP-qPCR showing changes in AHR m6A modification levels after treatment with the METTL3 inhibitor STM2457 in MB49 cells. (L) RT-qPCR analysis of AHR mRNA levels after STM2457 treatment to inhibit METTL3 in MB49 cells. (M) RNA decay assay showing AHR mRNA stability after silencing METTL3. (N) RNA decay assay showing AHR mRNA stability after treatment with METTL3 inhibitor STM2457 (2 µg/mL, 72 hours) in MB49 cells. (O) RT-qPCR analysis of IGF2BP1 and AHR mRNA expression levels in MB49 cells after silencing IGF2BP1. (P) RT-qPCR analysis of IGF2BP2 and AHR mRNA expression levels in MB49 cells after silencing IGF2BP2. (Q) RT-qPCR analysis of METTL3, IGF2BP1, and AHR mRNA expression levels in MB49 cells after overexpression of METTL3 and/or silencing of IGF2BP1. (R) Images of tumors formed by MB49 stable cell lines (control, AHR overexpression, METTL3 knockdown, METTL3 knockdown with AHR overexpression) subcutaneously implanted into the backs of C57BL/6J mice. (S) Growth curves of mouse bladder cancer tumors. (T) Volume of mouse bladder cancer tumors. (U) Schematic of the animal experiment. (V) Images of bladder cancer tumors in mice. (W) Growth curves of bladder cancer tumors in mice. (X) Tumor weights of bladder cancer tumors in mice; ns, no significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.

Article Snippet: Anti-mouse Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1) antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0146), anti-mouse CD8α antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0061), and anti-mouse Gr-1 antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0075) were also dissolved in PBS and administered intraperitoneally.

Techniques: Modification, Reverse Transcription, Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Knockdown, Over Expression, Binding Assay, ChIP-qPCR, Stable Transfection, Control

Journal: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Article Title: METTL3 promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment in bladder cancer via m6A-dependent CXCL5/CCL5 regulation

doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-011108

Figure Lengend Snippet: Targeting METTL3 enhances the efficacy of anti-Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1) immunotherapy in bladder cancer. (A) Control and METTL3-knockdown MB49 stable cell lines were subcutaneously injected into mice. Anti-PD-1 antibody (200 µg/mouse, every 3 days) was administered intraperitoneally starting on day 6. Tumors were harvested on day 12 for flow cytometric analysis of the immune microenvironment (n=5). (B–D) Images, growth curves, and tumor weights of subcutaneous bladder cancer tumors in mice. (E–F) Flow cytometric analysis of MDSCs and CD8+T cell infiltration levels in the tumor tissues of mouse bladder cancer. (G) Wild-type MB49 cells were subcutaneously injected into mice, and on day 6, the mice were randomly divided into groups. Treatment included anti-PD-1 antibody (200 µg/mouse, every 3 days, intraperitoneally), IgG antibody (200 µg/mouse, every 3 days, intraperitoneally), the METTL3 inhibitor STM2457 (250 µg/tumor, once daily, intratumorally), and a combination of STM2457 and anti-PD-1 antibody. (H, J) Images, growth curves, and tumor weights of bladder cancer tumors in mice. (K) Control or METTL3 knockdown MB49 stable cell lines were orthotopically injected into the mouse bladder wall to establish an orthotopic bladder cancer model. Anti-PD-1 antibody (200 µg/mouse, every 3 days, intraperitoneally) or IgG antibody (200 µg/mouse, every 3 days, intraperitoneally) was administered starting on day 6 (n=5). (L) In vivo imaging system (IVIS) Living imaging of tumor growth in the orthotopic bladder cancer model. (M) Images of orthotopic bladder cancer tumors in mice. (N) Statistical analysis of fluorescence signal values from IVIS Living imaging on day 16. (O) Tumor volume in the orthotopic bladder cancer model. (P) Tumor weight in the orthotopic bladder cancer model. (Q) Schematic diagram of the study content. ns, no significance. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.

Article Snippet: Anti-mouse Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1) antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0146), anti-mouse CD8α antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0061), and anti-mouse Gr-1 antibody (Bioxcell, #BE0075) were also dissolved in PBS and administered intraperitoneally.

Techniques: Control, Knockdown, Stable Transfection, Injection, In Vivo Imaging, Imaging, Fluorescence