Transmembrane protein 48 (TMEM48), localized to nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), has been reported crucial for NPC assembly. Alterations in NPC members have been reported in several malignancies. The present study was aimed to elucidate the expression and biological function of TMEM48 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Here, TMEM48 expression level was higher in NSCLC tissues than that in the adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, higher TMEM48 expression was correlated with a more advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, bigger tumor size tumor stage, and shorter survival time. Knockdown of TMEM48 in NSCLC cell lines, A549 and H1299, inhibited cell proliferation and significantly increased cells population in G1 phase. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that cell cycle pathway was correlative with the TMEM48 expression. Additionally, real-time PCR and western blot analysis revealed that several cell cycle and DNA replication genes, including Cyclin B1, CDK1, CDC6, PCNA, and RCF4, were reduced after TMEM48 knockdown. Additionally, inhibition of TMEM48 in NSCLC cells significantly stimulated cell apoptosis, while notably repressed cell adhesion, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity in nude mice. Our data provide insight into the biological relevance of TMEM48 in NSCLC progression and highlight its usefulness as a prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target in NSCLC.
Keywords: Cell cycle; Metastasis; NSCLC; Proliferation; TMEM48.