Silencing SHMT2 inhibits the progression of tongue squamous cell carcinoma through cell cycle regulation

Abstract Background Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) is a vital metabolic enzyme in one carbon metabolism catalyzing the conversion of serine to glycine, which has been reported play crucial role progression tumors. However, its function tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) remains unclear. Methods SHMT2 expression was analyzed using samples online databases, and assessed through immunohistochemistry staining collected clinical specimens. The correlation between cycle predicted bioinformatic analysis, including weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) set enrichment (GSEA). After transfection with siRNA, CCK8 assay, Edu staining, flow cytometry, trans-well wound healing experiments were performed verify functional vitro. A stable line silencing established detect oncogenic vivo. Results up-regulated TSCC tissues lines compared normal groups, highly expressed significantly indicated poorer outcome for patients. Bioinformatic found that high closely related biologic process G1/S transition. Down regulating suppressed proliferation, invasive migrative ability cells, induced prolongation G1 phase Furthermore, western blot showed cycle-related regulators such as cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) cyclinD1 levels decreased, while inhibitors p21 Cip1 p27 Kip1 increased after knockdown. Silencing HN6 short hairpin RNA also impeded tumor growth Conclusions Overexpression low survival rates, associated aggressive behaviors TSCC. It be involved regulation cells. may serve novel prognostic indicator