IGF2BP3 suppresses ferroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma by m6A-dependent regulation of TFAP2A to transcriptionally activate SLC7A11/GPX4

Ferroptosis is recently discovered as an important player in the initiation, proliferation, and progression of human tumors. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) has been reported as an oncogene in multiple types of cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, little research has been designed to investigate the regulation of IGF2BP3 on ferroptosis in LUAD. qRT-PCR and western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of IGF2BP3 and transcription factor AP-2 alpha (TFAP2A). CCK-8 assay was performed to determine cell viability. DCFH-DA and C11-BODIPY staining were used to detect the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid ROS. The corresponding assay kits were used to analyze the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). SRAMP website and m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP) were used to predict and confirm the m6A modification of TFAP2A. RIP experiments were conducted to confirm the binding of IGF2BP3 and TFAP2A. RNA stability assay was performed using actinomycin D. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter experiments were performed to confirm the interaction between TFAP2A and cystine/glutamate antiporter solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) or glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Mice xenotransplant model was also constructed to explore the effect of IGF2BP3 on LUAD tumor growth and ferroptosis. IGF2BP3 and TFAP2A were both highly expressed in LUAD. IGF2BP3 or TFAP2A knockdown induced ferroptosis by aggravating erastin-induced cell viability suppression, increasing the production of intracellular ROS, lipid ROS, and MDA, and decreasing GSH synthesis, GSH/GSSG ratio, and cystine uptake. Mechanistically, IGF2BP3 stabilized TFAP2A expression via m6A modification. Moreover, sh-IGF2BP3-mediated ferroptosis was significantly abated by TFAP2A overexpression. Furthermore, TFAP2A binds to the promoters of SLC7A11 and GPX4 to promote their transcription. Also, IGF2BP3 depletion suppressed LUAD tumor growth by inducing ferroptosis in mice. IGF2BP3 suppresses ferroptosis in LUAD by m6A-dependent regulation of TFAP2A to promote the transcription of SLC7A11 and GPX4. Our findings suggest that targeting IGF2BP3/TFAP2A/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis might be a potential therapeutic choice to increase ferroptosis sensitivity in LUAD.