title: O-GlcNAcylation enhances anaplastic thyroid carcinoma malignancy.
abstract: O-linkedN-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) glycosylation (O-GlcNAcylation), a dynamic post-translational modification of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins, may have a critical role in the regulation of biological cell processes and human cancer. O-GlcNAcylation is dynamically regulated by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAc hydrolase (OGA). Accumulating evidence suggests that O-GlcNAcylation is involved in a variety of types of human cancer. However, the exact role of O-GlcNAcylation in tumor pathogenesis or progression remains to be established. Computed tomography scans of patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) reveal a rapid growth rate and invasion. The present study demonstrated that O-GlcNAcylation accelerates the progression of ATC. The global O-GlcNAc level of intracellular proteins was increased by overexpression of OGT or downregulation of OGA activity with the specific inhibitor Thiamet-G. By contrast, the global O-GlcNAc level was decreased by silencing of OGT. MTT assay indicated that O-GlcNAcylation significantly promotes cell proliferation. Furthermore, O-GlcNAcylation enhanced cellular biological functions, such as colony formation ability, migration and invasion, of ATC cellsin vitro. The findings of the present study suggest that O-GlcNAcylation is associated with malignant properties of thyroid cancer, and may be a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College, Yantai, Shandong 264000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Y U
authors.initials: YU
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College, Yantai, Shandong 264000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Honglun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College, Yantai, Shandong 264000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jianlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Penglai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Penglai, Shandong 265600, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jisheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yankuang Group General Hospital, Zoucheng, Shandong 273500, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Yankuang Group General Hospital, Zoucheng, Shandong 273500, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Baodong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: O-linked N-acetylglucosamine glycosylation; O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase; invasion; migration; proliferation; thyroid carcinoma