DNA methyltransferase 3 beta regulates ras related domain family 1 methylation leading to enhanced proliferation and migration in gastric cancer cells

Abstract

Silencing expression of RASSF1A, which is induced by DNA hypermethylation, contributes to proliferation and migration in gastric cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of this process remain unclear. In order to investigate the effect and mechanisms of RASSF1A methylation on proliferation and migration of gastric cancer, DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (5-AZA-CdR) were used to interfere with expression of DNMT3B and RASSF1A in gastric cancer AGS cells. Fe3O4–SiO2 nanoparticles were used to extract mRNA for RT-qPCR, and RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to measure the effect of RASSF1A expression on the expression of Caspase 3, Bcl-2, and Bax in AGS cells. MTT and cell scratch assays were used to assess the proliferation and migration of AGS cells. Our findings show that DNA methyltransferase inhibitors inhibit expression of DNMT3B, which leads to an increase in the expression of RASSF1A, Caspase3, and Bax at both the mRNA and protein levels, and inhibits the expression of Bcl-2. Thus, inhibiting the expression of DNMT3B and altering levels of DNA methylation can promote the expression of RASSF1A, regulate the expression of apoptosis-related genes, and inhibit proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells. It is helpful to explore the pathological mechanism of endometrial cancer and provide theoretical basis for RASSF1A as a potential therapeutic target of gastric cancer.