Tripartite Motif-containing Protein 11 Silencing Inhibits Proliferation and Glycolysis and Promotes Apoptosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Inactivating Signal Transduction and Activation of Transcription Factor 3/c-Myc Signaling

Abstract

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common type of human digestive tract cancer with poor survival. Tripartite motif-containing protein 11 (TRIM11) is an oncogene in certain cancers that can regulate glycolysis and signal transduction and activation of transcription factor 3 (STAT3) signaling. This study was designed to investigate the role and the mechanism of TRIM11 in ESCC. First, TRIM11 expression in ESCC tissues and the correlation between TRIM11 expression and prognosis were analyzed using bioinformatics tools. After TRIM11 expression was detected by Western blot in ESCC cells, TRIM11 was silenced to evaluate its effect on the malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by cell counting kit-8 assay, ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine staining, and flow cytometry, respectively. The glucose uptake and lactate secretion were detected to examine glycolysis. In addition, Western blot was employed to detect the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, glycolysis, and STAT3/c-Myc signaling. Then, ESCC cells were treated with STAT3 activator further to clarify the regulatory effect of TRIM11 on STAT3/c-Myc signaling. TRIM11 was upregulated in ESCC tissues and cells, and high expression of TRIM11 was associated with a poor prognosis. TRIM11 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and glycolysis while facilitating apoptosis of ESCC cells. Besides, the expression of p-STAT3 and c-Myc was significantly downregulated by TRIM11 silencing. Of note, the STAT3 activator partially reversed the effects of TRIM11 depletion on the proliferation, apoptosis, and glycolysis in ESCC cells. Collectively, TRIM11 loss-of-function affects the proliferation, apoptosis, and glycolysis in ESCC cells by inactivating STAT3/c-Myc signaling.