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

Abstract

Background The TCEAL5 gene, a member of the TCEAL family, is linked to various biological processes but remains understudied in cancer research. Methods This study analyzed TCEAL5 expression in glioma and investigated its biological functions through cell assays and molecular analyses. The role of TCEAL5 in cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was examined, alongside its interaction with the NuRD complex. Results TCEAL5 expression was significantly lower in glioma tissues, correlating with disease progression and patient survival. Overexpression of TCEAL5 inhibited glioma cell migration and invasion, inducing a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition. TCEAL5 was demonstrated to inhibit the expression of mesenchymal genes by recruiting the NuRD complex to the gene promoters, affecting histone acetylation and transcriptional activity. The reduced expression of TCEAL5 in glioma was partially attributed to DNA hypermethylation and gene copy number variations. Conclusions TCEAL5 functions as a potential tumor suppressor in glioma, affecting cell migration, invasion, and EMT through epigenetic regulation. Its expression correlates with disease prognosis, highlighting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.