Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) potentiates the aggressive process of oral squamous cell carcinoma by binding to interleukin enhancer-binding factor 2 (ILF2)

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a frequent threatening head and neck malignancy. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) was identified to be upregulated in OSCC and its high expression was associated with poor patient prognosis. This paper set out to assess the influence of SHMT2 on OSCC progression and the potential mechanisms related to interleukin enhancer-binding factor 2 (ILF2). First of all, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot examined the expression of SHMT2 and ILF2 in OSCC cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays appraised cell proliferation. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Mediated Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) staining was to estimate the apoptotic rate of cells. Further, wound healing and transwell assays verified the migration and invasion of cells. Western blot was adopted to detect the expression of factors related to apoptosis, migration, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The possible interaction of SHMT2 and ILF2 was predicted by a Molecular INTeraction (MINT) and BioGRID databases and determined using co-immunoprecipitation (IP) assay. Subsequently, ILF2 was overexpressed to investigate whether SHMT2 regulated OSCC progression by binding to ILF2. Results implied that SHMT2 possessed increased expression in OSCC cells, and OSCC cell viability, migration, invasion, EMT were inhibited and apoptosis was potentiated after its silencing. ILF2 bound to SHMT2 and ILF2 expression was downregulated after SHMT2 silencing in OSCC cells. Importantly, ILF2 overexpression abolished the suppressive role of SHMT2 interference in the progression of OSCC. Collectively, SHMT2 could promote the progression of OSCC by binding to ILF2.