CREB1 regulates RECQL4 to inhibit mitophagy and promote esophageal cancer metastasis

Mitophagy plays a vital role in carcinogenesis and tumor progres­sion. However, the research on the mechanism of mitophagy in esopha­geal cancer metastasis is limited. This study explored the regulatory mechanism of RECQL4 in mitophagy and affects esopha­geal cancer metastasis. The RECQL4 expression in esopha­geal cancer tissues and cells was examined by bioinformatics and qRT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis was used to determine the upstream regulatory factor of RECQL4 and CREB1. Their binding relationship was evaluated by dual luciferase and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation assays. The effects of RECQL4 on esophageal cancer cells viability, metastasis, and mitophagy were examined using CCK-8, Transwell, immunofluorescence, and Western blot assays. The expression of RECQL4 was up-regulated in esophageal cancer tissues and cells. Overexpression of RECQL4 promoted the cells viability, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by inhibiting mitophagy. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a positive correlation between RECQL4 and CREB1, their binding relationship was validatied by dual luciferase and ChIP assays. CREB1 knockdown promoted mitophagy and prevented the metastasis of cancer cells, which could be countered by overexpressing RECQL4. In conclusion, CREB1 was found to transcriptionally activate RECQL4 to inhibit mitophagy, thereby promoting esophageal cancer metastasis. Targeting mitophagy could be an effective therapeutic approach for esophageal cancer.