IGF2BP1 promotes gastric cancer progression by stabilizing HS6ST2 mRNA in an N6-methyladenosine-dependent manner

Figure 6 Heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase 2 suppresses apoptosis by activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and is associated with the tumor microenvironment. A: Volcano plot of differentially expressed genes upon heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase 2 (HS6ST2) knockdown (437 genes, 291 up, 146 down); B: Heatmap confirms distinct transcriptome profiles in control vs HS6ST2-knockdown groups; C: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment of differentially expressed genes shows significant enrichment in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway; D: HS6ST2 knockdown significantly increases apoptosis in SGC7901 cells (flow cytometry); E: Western blot shows HS6ST2 knockdown reduces phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase B and mammalian target of rapamycin; F: Immunohistochemical analysis reveals CD33 and periostin expression is significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; shRNA: Short hairpin RNA; NC: Negative control; P13K: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; P: Phosphorylation; Akt: Protein kinase B; mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin; LN: Lymph node.