TCEAL5 cooperates with the NuRD complex to epigenetically silence mesenchymal genes in glioma

Abstract

The TCEAL5 gene, a member of the TCEAL family, is linked to various biological processes but remains understudied in cancer research. This study analyzed TCEAL5 expression in glioma and investigated its biological functions through cell assays and molecular analyses. Our findings revealed a significant reduction in TCEAL5 expression in glioma tissues, with lower expression levels correlating with higher histologic grades and poorer prognosis. Further experimental investigations demonstrated that ectopic overexpression of TCEAL5 in glioma cell lines significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion. Mechanistic studies indicated that TCEAL5 exerts its inhibitory effects on EMT by directly binding to the promoters of mesenchymal genes. Additionally, TCEAL5 was found to interact with the NuRD complex, leading to transcriptional repression of mesenchymal genes via epigenetic modulation. These findings highlight the multifaceted role of TCEAL5 as a tumor suppressor in glioma, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and a target for therapeutic intervention. Our study not only adds to the understanding of TCEAL5's biological functions but also opens new avenues for research into its application in cancer therapy.