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Cheema Z, Hari-Gupta Y, Kita GX, Farrar D, Seddon I, Corr J, Klenova E. Expression of the cancer-testis antigen BORIS correlates with prostate cancer. Prostate 2014; 74:164-76. [PMID: 24123052 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND BORIS, a paralogue of the transcription factor CTCF, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen (CT) family. BORIS is normally present at high levels in the testis; however it is aberrantly expressed in various tumors and cancer cell lines. The main objectives of this study were to investigate BORIS expression together with sub-cellular localization in both prostate cell lines and tumor tissues, and assess correlations between BORIS and clinical/pathological characteristics. METHODS We examined BORIS mRNA expression, protein levels and cellular localization in a panel of human prostate tissues, cancer and benign, together with a panel prostate cell lines. We also compared BORIS levels and localization with clinical/pathological characteristics in prostate tumors. RESULTS BORIS was detected in all inspected prostate cancer cell lines and tumors, but was absent in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Increased levels of BORIS protein positively correlated with Gleason score, T-stage and androgen receptor (AR) protein levels in prostate tumors. The relationship between BORIS and AR was further highlighted in prostate cell lines by the ability of ectopically expressed BORIS to activate the endogenous AR mRNA and protein. BORIS localization in the nucleus plus cytoplasm was also associated with higher BORIS levels and Gleason score. CONCLUSIONS Detection of BORIS in prostate tumors suggests potential applications of BORIS as a biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis, as an immunotherapy target and, potentially, a prognostic marker of more aggressive prostate cancer. The ability of BORIS to activate the AR gene indicates BORIS involvement in the growth and development of prostate tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubair Cheema
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK; Department of Urology, Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, Colchester, UK
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Batlle-López A, Cortiguera MG, Rosa-Garrido M, Blanco R, del Cerro E, Torrano V, Wagner SD, Delgado MD. Novel CTCF binding at a site in exon1A of BCL6 is associated with active histone marks and a transcriptionally active locus. Oncogene 2013; 34:246-56. [PMID: 24362533 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Revised: 10/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BCL6 is a zinc-finger transcriptional repressor, which is highly expressed in germinal centre B-cells and is essential for germinal centre formation and T-dependent antibody responses. Constitutive BCL6 expression is sufficient to produce lymphomas in mice. Deregulated expression of BCL6 due to chromosomal rearrangements, mutations of a negative autoregulatory site in the BCL6 promoter region and aberrant post-translational modifications have been detected in a number of human lymphomas. Tight lineage and temporal regulation of BCL6 is, therefore, required for normal immunity, and abnormal regulation occurs in lymphomas. CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a multi-functional chromatin regulator, which has recently been shown to bind in a methylation-sensitive manner to sites within the BCL6 first intron. We demonstrate a novel CTCF-binding site in BCL6 exon1A within a potential CpG island, which is unmethylated both in cell lines and in primary lymphoma samples. CTCF binding, which was found in BCL6-expressing cell lines, correlated with the presence of histone variant H2A.Z and active histone marks, suggesting that CTCF induces chromatin modification at a transcriptionally active BCL6 locus. CTCF binding to exon1A was required to maintain BCL6 expression in germinal centre cells by avoiding BCL6-negative autoregulation. Silencing of CTCF in BCL6-expressing cells reduced BCL6 mRNA and protein expression, which is sufficient to induce B-cell terminal differentiation toward plasma cells. Moreover, lack of CTCF binding to exon1A shifts the BCL6 local chromatin from an active to a repressive state. This work demonstrates that, in contexts in which BCL6 is expressed, CTCF binding to BCL6 exon1A associates with epigenetic modifications indicative of transcriptionally open chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Batlle-López
- 1] Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) and Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN, Santander, Spain [2] Servicio de Hematología, Hospital U. Marqués de Valdecilla, and IFIMAV-FMV, Santander, Spain
| | - M G Cortiguera
- 1] Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) and Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN, Santander, Spain [2] Servicio de Hematología, Hospital U. Marqués de Valdecilla, and IFIMAV-FMV, Santander, Spain
| | - M Rosa-Garrido
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) and Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN, Santander, Spain
| | - R Blanco
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) and Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN, Santander, Spain
| | - E del Cerro
- Servicio de Hematología, Hospital U. Marqués de Valdecilla, and IFIMAV-FMV, Santander, Spain
| | - V Torrano
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) and Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN, Santander, Spain
| | - S D Wagner
- Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine and MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - M D Delgado
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) and Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN, Santander, Spain
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Xu R, Guo LJ, Xin J, Li WM, Gao Y, Zheng YX, Guo YH, Lin YJ, Xie YH, Wu YQ, Xu RA. Luciferase Assay to Screen Tumour-specific Promoters in Lung Cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2013; 14:6557-62. [DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.11.6557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Ogunkolade BW, Jones TA, Aarum J, Szary J, Owen N, Ottaviani D, Mumin MA, Patel S, Pieri CA, Silver AR, Sheer D. BORIS/CTCFL is an RNA-binding protein that associates with polysomes. BMC Cell Biol 2013; 14:52. [PMID: 24279897 PMCID: PMC4219345 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2121-14-52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BORIS (CTCFL), a paralogue of the multifunctional and ubiquitously expressed transcription factor CTCF, is best known for its role in transcriptional regulation. In the nucleus, BORIS is particularly enriched in the nucleolus, a crucial compartment for ribosomal RNA and RNA metabolism. However, little is known about cytoplasmic BORIS, which represents the major pool of BORIS protein. RESULTS We show, firstly, that BORIS has a putative nuclear export signal in the C-terminal domain. Furthermore, BORIS associates with mRNA in both neural stem cells and young neurons. The majority of the BORIS-associated transcripts are different in the two cell types. Finally, by using polysome profiling we show that BORIS is associated with actively translating ribosomes. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated the RNA binding properties of cellular BORIS and its association with actively translating ribosomes. We suggest that BORIS is involved in gene expression at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Denise Sheer
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Queen Mary University of London, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, E1 2AT, UK.
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Del Campo EP, Márquez JJT, Reyes-Vargas F, Intriago-Ortega MDP, Quintanar-Escorza MA, Burciaga-Nava JA, Sifuentes-Alvarez A, Reyes-Romero M. CTCF and CTCFL mRNA expression in 17β-estradiol-treated MCF7 cells. Biomed Rep 2013; 2:101-104. [PMID: 24649078 DOI: 10.3892/br.2013.200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogens play a key role in breast cancer, with 60-70% of the cases expressing estrogen receptors (ERs), which are encoded by the ESR1 gene. CTCFL, a paralogue of the chromatin organizer CTCF, is a potential biomarker of breast cancer, but its expression in this disease is currently controversial. A positive correlation has been reported between CTCFL and ERs in breast tumors and there also exists a coordinated interaction between CTCF and ERs in breast cancer cells. Therefore, there appears to be an association between CTCF, CTCFL and estrogens in breast cancer; however, there has been no report on the effects of estrogens on CTCF and CTCFL expression. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on the CTCF and CTCFL mRNA expression in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. The promoter methylation status of CTCFL and data mining for estrogen response elements in promoters of the CTCF and CTCFL genes were also determined. The transcription of CTCF and CTCFL was performed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the promoter methylation status of CTCFL was determined by methylation-specific PCR. The MCF7 cells exhibited basal transcription of CTCF, which was significantly downregulated to 0.68 by 1 μM E2; basal or E2-regulated transcription of CTCFL was not detected. Under basal conditions, the CTCFL promoter was methylated. Through data mining, an estrogen response element was identified in the CTCF promoter, but no such element was found in CTCFL. These results suggested that estrogens may modulate CTCF expression, although there was no apparent association between ERs and CTCFL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Portillo Del Campo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of the State of Durango, Durango 34000, Mexico
| | - José Jorge Talamás Márquez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of the State of Durango, Durango 34000, Mexico ; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of the State of Durango, Durango 34000, Mexico
| | | | - María Del Pilar Intriago-Ortega
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of the State of Durango, Durango 34000, Mexico
| | | | - Jorge Alberto Burciaga-Nava
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of the State of Durango, Durango 34000, Mexico
| | - Antonio Sifuentes-Alvarez
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of the State of Durango, Durango 34000, Mexico
| | - Miguel Reyes-Romero
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of the State of Durango, Durango 34000, Mexico
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56
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Senses KM, Gonen M, Barutcu AR, Kalaylioglu Z, Isbilen M, Konu O, Chen YT, Altorki NK, Gure AO. Cancer-testis gene expression is associated with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C>T polymorphism in non-small cell lung carcinoma. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2013; 14:97. [PMID: 24063603 PMCID: PMC3849821 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2350-14-97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Tumor-specific, coordinate expression of cancer-testis (CT) genes, mapping to the X chromosome, is observed in more than 60% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Although CT gene expression has been unequivocally related to DNA demethylation of promoter regions, the underlying mechanism leading to loss of promoter methylation remains elusive. Polymorphisms of enzymes within the 1-carbon pathway have been shown to affect S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) production, which is the sole methyl donor in the cell. Allelic variants of several enzymes within this pathway have been associated with altered SAM levels either directly, or indirectly as reflected by altered levels of SAH and Homocysteine levels, and altered levels of DNA methylation. We, therefore, asked whether the five most commonly occurring polymorphisms in four of the enzymes in the 1-carbon pathway associated with CT gene expression status in patients with NSCLC. Methods Fifty patients among a cohort of 763 with NSCLC were selected based on CT gene expression status and typed for five polymorphisms in four genes known to affect SAM generation by allele specific q-PCR and RFLP. Results We identified a significant association between CT gene expression and the MTHFR 677 CC genotype, as well as the C allele of the SNP, in this cohort of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that the genotype and allele strongly associate with CT gene expression, independent of potential confounders. Conclusions Although CT gene expression is associated with DNA demethylation, in NSCLC, our data suggests this is unlikely to be the result of decreased MTHFR function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerem M Senses
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
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57
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Tiffen JC, Bailey CG, Marshall AD, Metierre C, Feng Y, Wang Q, Watson SL, Holst J, Rasko JEJ. The cancer-testis antigen BORIS phenocopies the tumor suppressor CTCF in normal and neoplastic cells. Int J Cancer 2013; 133:1603-13. [PMID: 23553099 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BORIS and CTCF are paralogous, multivalent 11-zinc finger transcription factors that play important roles in organizing higher-order chromatin architecture. BORIS is a cancer-testis antigen with a poorly defined function in cancer, although it has been hypothesized to exhibit oncogenic properties. CTCF, however, has been postulated as a candidate tumor suppressor. We collated the genetic lesions in BORIS and CTCF from multiple cancers identified using high-throughput genomics. In BORIS, nonsense and missense mutations are evenly distributed. In CTCF, recurrent mutations are mostly clustered in the conserved zinc finger domain and at residues critical for contacting DNA and zinc ion co-ordination. Three missense mutations are common to both proteins. We used an inducible lentivector to express wildtype BORIS or CTCF in primary cells and cancer cell lines in order to define their functional differences. Both BORIS and CTCF caused a significant decrease in cell proliferation and clonogenic capacity, without alteration of specific cell cycle phases. Both BORIS and CTCF conferred protective effects in primary cells and some cancer cells during UV damage-induced apoptosis. Using a bioluminescent MCF-7 orthotopic breast cancer model in vivo, we demonstrated that CTCF and BORIS suppressed breast cancer growth. These findings provide further evidence that CTCF behaves as a tumor suppressor, and show BORIS has a similar growth inhibitory effect in vitro and in vivo. Hence, acquired zinc finger mutations may disrupt these functions, thereby contributing to tumor growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessamy C Tiffen
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
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58
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Ito Y, Nativio R, Murrell A. Induced DNA demethylation can reshape chromatin topology at the IGF2-H19 locus. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:5290-302. [PMID: 23585276 PMCID: PMC3664821 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2012] [Revised: 03/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Choriocarcinomas are embryonal tumours with loss of imprinting and hypermethylation at the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2)-H19 locus. The DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-Aza-2'deoxycytidine (5-AzaCdR) is an approved epigenetic cancer therapy. However, it is not known to what extent 5-AzaCdR influences other epigenetic marks. In this study, we set out to determine whether 5-AzaCdR treatment can reprogram the epigenomic organization of the IGF2-H19 locus in a choriocarcinoma cancer cell line (JEG3). We found that localized DNA demethylation at the H19 imprinting control region (ICR) induced by 5-AzaCdR, reduced IGF2, increased H19 expression, increased CTCF and cohesin recruitment and changed histone modifications. Furthermore chromatin accessibility was increased locus-wide and chromatin looping topography was altered such that a CTCF site downstream of the H19 enhancers switched its association with the CTCF site upstream of the IGF2 promoters to associate with the ICR. We identified a stable chromatin looping domain, which forms independently of DNA methylation. This domain contains the IGF2 gene and is marked by a histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation block between CTCF site upstream of the IGF2 promoters and the Centrally Conserved Domain upstream of the ICR. Together, these data provide new insights into the responsiveness of chromatin topography to DNA methylation changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Ito
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Smilow Center for Translational Research, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Bldg 421, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058, USA
| | - Raffaella Nativio
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Smilow Center for Translational Research, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Bldg 421, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058, USA
| | - Adele Murrell
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Smilow Center for Translational Research, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Bldg 421, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058, USA
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59
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Pandey A, Kurup A, Shrivastava A, Radhi S, Nguyen DD, Arentz C, D'Chuna N, Hardwick F, D'Souza MJ, Jenkins M, Grizzi F, Kast WM, Cobos E, Rahman R, Chiriva-Internati M, Chiaramonte R, Platonova N. Cancer testes antigens in breast cancer: biological role, regulation, and therapeutic applicability. Int Rev Immunol 2013; 31:302-20. [PMID: 23083343 DOI: 10.3109/08830185.2012.723511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women across the world. The last few decades have seen significant reduction in mortality owing to earlier detection and better adjuvant treatments that were developed based on clinical staging and morphological features. As these treatments have evolved, the heterogeneity of breast cancer poses a new challenge, since there is no standard gold-therapy suitable for all tumors of the mammary gland. Therefore, contemporary management and research efforts are directed toward specific prognostic and predictive molecular signatures that can guide targeted individualized therapy. The goal of ongoing research in this field is to identify specific molecular targets for developing novel therapeutic approaches. These targets can also serve to improve screening of breast cancer. This review focuses on the role of cancer testis antigens (CTAs) in breast carcinogenesis and explores the potential for development of targeted screening and therapeutic approaches. Normally found in the testes, these antigens are highly correlative with cancers of the breast, skin, and ovaries. These implications have been further corroborated through uncovering the interaction of CTAs with genes and proteins involved in tumor suppression and homeostasis like p53. There is some evidence that these genes can be targeted for early detection in addition to being candidates for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apurva Pandey
- Department of Internal Medicine at the Division of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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Apicidin and docetaxel combination treatment drives CTCFL expression and HMGB1 release acting as potential antitumor immune response inducers in metastatic breast cancer cells. Neoplasia 2013; 14:855-67. [PMID: 23019417 DOI: 10.1593/neo.121020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Revised: 08/08/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently approved combination regimens available for the treatment of metastatic tumors, such as breast cancer, have been shown to increase response rates, often at the cost of a substantial increase in toxicity. An ideal combination strategy may consist of agents with different mechanisms of action leading to complementary antitumor activities and safety profiles. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the epigenetic modulator apicidin in combination with the cytotoxic agent docetaxel in tumor breast cell lines characterized by different grades of invasiveness. We report that combined treatment of apicidin and docetaxel, at low toxicity doses, stimulates in metastatic breast cancer cells the expression of CTCF-like protein and other cancer antigens, thus potentially favoring an antitumor immune response. In addition, apicidin and docetaxel co-treatment specifically stimulates apoptosis, characterized by an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-8 activation. Importantly, following combined exposure to these agents, metastatic cells were also found to induce signals of immunogenic apoptosis such as cell surface expression of calreticulin and release of considerable amounts of high-mobility group box 1 protein, thus potentially promoting the translation of induced cell death into antitumor immune response. Altogether, our results indicate that the combined use of apicidin and docetaxel, at a low toxicity profile, may represent a potential innovative strategy able to activate complementary antitumor pathways in metastatic breast cancer cells, associated with a potential control of metastatic growth and possible induction of antitumor immunity.
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De Smet C, Loriot A. DNA hypomethylation and activation of germline-specific genes in cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2013; 754:149-66. [PMID: 22956500 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-9967-2_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation, occurring at cytosines in CpG dinucleotides, is a potent mechanism of transcriptional repression. Proper genomic methylation -patterns become profoundly altered in cancer cells: both gains (hypermethylation) and losses (hypomethylation) of methylated sites are observed. Although DNA hypomethylation is detected in a vast majority of human tumors and affects many genomic regions, its role in tumor biology remains elusive. Surprisingly, DNA hypomethylation in cancer was found to cause the aberrant activation of only a limited group of genes. Most of these are normally expressed exclusively in germline cells and were grouped under the term "cancer-germline" (CG) genes. CG genes represent unique examples of genes that rely primarily on DNA methylation for their tissue-specific expression. They are also being exploited to uncover the mechanisms that lead to DNA hypomethylation in tumors. Moreover, as CG genes encode tumor-specific antigens, their activation in cancer highlights a direct link between epigenetic alterations and tumor immunity. As a result, clinical trials combining epigenetic drugs with anti-CG antigen vaccines are being considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles De Smet
- Laboratory of Genetics and Epigenetics, de Duve Institute, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
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Chen K, Huang W, Huang B, Wei Y, Li B, Ge Y, Qin Y. BORIS, brother of the regulator of imprinted sites, is aberrantly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2012; 17:160-5. [PMID: 23237599 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2012.0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) is a novel member of the cancer testis antigen gene family, which are normally expressed only in spermatocytes, but abnormally activated in different malignancies. AIM The aim of this study was to explore the expression of BORIS in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its correlation with the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of HCC. METHODS We investigated BORIS expression in HCC cell lines and 105 primary HCC clinical surgical specimens using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. We further examined the correlation of BORIS with a liver stem cell marker (CD90) in HCC tissues by histochemical double staining. The correlation of BORIS with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of HCC was analyzed using patient data. RESULTS The expression of BORIS was found in SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, and Huh-7, but not in hep-G2 cells. The expression rate of BORIS was significantly higher in the HCC tissues than in the adjacent noncancerous tissues (p=0.000). BORIS expression was correlated with the tumor size (p=0.000), CD90 expression (p=0.000), and satellite nodule (p=0.000). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that patients with positive expression of BORIS had lower overall survival rate (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that BORIS may be an auxiliary diagnosis index and a novel favorable prognostic indicator of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kefei Chen
- Division of Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China
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BHAN SHEETAL, CHUANG ALICE, NEGI SANDEEPS, GLAZER CHADA, CALIFANO JOSEPHA. MAGEA4 induces growth in normal oral keratinocytes by inhibiting growth arrest and apoptosis. Oncol Rep 2012; 28:1498-502. [DOI: 10.3892/or.2012.1934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 06/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Okabayashi K, Fujita T, Miyazaki J, Okada T, Iwata T, Hirao N, Noji S, Tsukamoto N, Goshima N, Hasegawa H, Takeuchi H, Ueda M, Kitagawa Y, Kawakami Y. Cancer-testis antigen BORIS is a novel prognostic marker for patients with esophageal cancer. Cancer Sci 2012; 103:1617-24. [PMID: 22676270 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2012.02355.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Revised: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is one of the most common lethal tumors in the world, and development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods is needed. In this study, cancer-testis antigen, BORIS, was isolated by functional cDNA expression cloning using screening technique with serum IgG Abs from ESCC patients. BORIS was previously reported to show cancer-testis antigen like expression, but its immunogenicity has remained unclear in cancer patients. BORIS was considered to be an immunogenic antigen capable of inducing IgG Abs in patients with various cancers, including four of 11 ESCC patients. Immunohistochemical study showed that the BORIS protein was expressed in 28 of 50 (56%) ESCC tissues. The BORIS expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis in ESCC patients with pT1 disease (P = 0.036). Furthermore, the patients with BORIS-positive tumors had a poor overall survival (5-year survival rate: BORIS-negative 70.0% vs BORIS-positive 29.9%, log-rank P = 0.028) in Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank test. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that BORIS expression was an independent poor prognostic factor (hazard ratio = 4.158 [95% confidence interval 1.494-11.57], P = 0.006). Downregulation of BORIS with specific siRNAs resulted in decreased cell proliferation and invasion ability of ESCC cell lines. BORIS may be a useful biomarker for prognostic diagnosis of ESCC patients and a potential target for treatment including by BORIS-specific immunotherapy and molecular target therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Okabayashi
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Gaykalova D, Vatapalli R, Glazer CA, Bhan S, Shao C, Sidransky D, Ha PK, Califano JA. Dose-dependent activation of putative oncogene SBSN by BORIS. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40389. [PMID: 22792300 PMCID: PMC3390376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Testis-specific transcription factor BORIS (Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites), a paralog and proposed functional antagonist of the widely expressed CTCF, is abnormally expressed in multiple tumor types and has been implicated in the epigenetic activation of cancer-testis antigens (CTAs). We have reported previously that suprabasin (SBSN), whose expression is restricted to the epidermis, is epigenetically derepressed in lung cancer. In this work, we establish that SBSN is a novel non-CTA target of BORIS epigenetic regulation. With the use of a doxycycline-inducible BORIS expressing vector, we demonstrate that relative BORIS dosage is critical for SBSN activation. At lower concentrations, BORIS induces demethylation of the SBSN CpG island and disruption and activation of chromatin around the SBSN transcription start site (TSS), resulting in a 35-fold increase in SBSN expression in the H358 human lung cancer cell line. Interestingly, increasing BORIS concentrations leads to a subsequent reduction in SBSN expression via chromatin repression. In a similar manner, increase in BORIS concentrations leads to eventual decrease of cell growth and colony formation. This is the first report demonstrating that different amount of BORIS defines its varied effects on the expression of a target gene via chromatin structure reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Gaykalova
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rajita Vatapalli
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chad A. Glazer
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sheetal Bhan
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chunbo Shao
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David Sidransky
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Milton J. Dance Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Patrick K. Ha
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Milton J. Dance Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph A. Califano
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Milton J. Dance Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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66
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Sleutels F, Soochit W, Bartkuhn M, Heath H, Dienstbach S, Bergmaier P, Franke V, Rosa-Garrido M, van de Nobelen S, Caesar L, van der Reijden M, Bryne JC, van Ijcken W, Grootegoed JA, Delgado MD, Lenhard B, Renkawitz R, Grosveld F, Galjart N. The male germ cell gene regulator CTCFL is functionally different from CTCF and binds CTCF-like consensus sites in a nucleosome composition-dependent manner. Epigenetics Chromatin 2012; 5:8. [PMID: 22709888 PMCID: PMC3418201 DOI: 10.1186/1756-8935-5-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background CTCF is a highly conserved and essential zinc finger protein expressed in virtually all cell types. In conjunction with cohesin, it organizes chromatin into loops, thereby regulating gene expression and epigenetic events. The function of CTCFL or BORIS, the testis-specific paralog of CTCF, is less clear. Results Using immunohistochemistry on testis sections and fluorescence-based microscopy on intact live seminiferous tubules, we show that CTCFL is only transiently present during spermatogenesis, prior to the onset of meiosis, when the protein co-localizes in nuclei with ubiquitously expressed CTCF. CTCFL distribution overlaps completely with that of Stra8, a retinoic acid-inducible protein essential for the propagation of meiosis. We find that absence of CTCFL in mice causes sub-fertility because of a partially penetrant testicular atrophy. CTCFL deficiency affects the expression of a number of testis-specific genes, including Gal3st1 and Prss50. Combined, these data indicate that CTCFL has a unique role in spermatogenesis. Genome-wide RNA expression studies in ES cells expressing a V5- and GFP-tagged form of CTCFL show that genes that are downregulated in CTCFL-deficient testis are upregulated in ES cells. These data indicate that CTCFL is a male germ cell gene regulator. Furthermore, genome-wide DNA-binding analysis shows that CTCFL binds a consensus sequence that is very similar to that of CTCF. However, only ~3,700 out of the ~5,700 CTCFL- and ~31,000 CTCF-binding sites overlap. CTCFL binds promoters with loosely assembled nucleosomes, whereas CTCF favors consensus sites surrounded by phased nucleosomes. Finally, an ES cell-based rescue assay shows that CTCFL is functionally different from CTCF. Conclusions Our data suggest that nucleosome composition specifies the genome-wide binding of CTCFL and CTCF. We propose that the transient expression of CTCFL in spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes serves to occupy a subset of promoters and maintain the expression of male germ cell genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Sleutels
- Department of Cell Biology Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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67
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Rousseaux S, Khochbin S. New hypotheses for large-scale epigenome alterations in somatic cancer cells: a role for male germ-cell-specific regulators. Epigenomics 2012; 1:153-61. [PMID: 22122641 DOI: 10.2217/epi.09.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic cell transformation is consistently associated with alterations of the cell epigenome leading to aberrant gene repression and activation. Some of these events, such as the DNA-methylation-based silencing of tumor suppressor genes, are considered to be oncogenic themselves. A much less-studied consequence of these epigenetic misregulations is the abnormal activation of tissue-specific genes in precancerous and transformed cells. Here, we explore the idea that the aberrant expression of germ-cell-specific genes in somatic cancer cells could contribute to malignant cell transformation and cancer progression. Indeed, a significant number of papers have reported the abnormal activation of germ cell-specific genes in various somatic cancers (known as cancer testis [C/T] antigens or factors). Although in most cases the physiological function of these genes remains unknown, functional investigations suggest that they can act as potent genome, epigenome and cellular reorganizers. Hence, in view of the existing literature, we discuss the hypothesis that C/T activation in somatic cells is not only a consequence of global epigenetic deregulation, but also a cause of further large-scale alterations of the epigenome, which themselves have direct oncogenic consequences for the affected cells. Finally, we highlight the fact that C/T factors have the potential to serve as valuable markers for cancer detection, as well as provide promising targets for developing new therapeutical strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Rousseaux
- INSERM U823, Université Joseph Fourier, Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, France.
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68
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Ladelfa MF, Peche LY, Toledo MF, Laiseca JE, Schneider C, Monte M. Tumor-specific MAGE proteins as regulators of p53 function. Cancer Lett 2012; 325:11-7. [PMID: 22664239 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2012] [Revised: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 05/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Since its discovery in 1991, the knowledge about the tumor specific melanoma antigen gene (MAGE-I) family has been continuously increasing. Initially, MAGE-I proteins were considered as selective targets for immunotherapy. More recently, emerging data obtained from different cellular mechanisms controlled by MAGE-I proteins suggest a key role in the regulation of important pathways linked to cell proliferation. This is in part due to the ability of some MAGE-I proteins to control the p53 tumor suppressor. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms proposed to explain how MAGE-I proteins affect p53 functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Fátima Ladelfa
- Departamento de Química Biológica, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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69
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Schrump DS. Targeting epigenetic mediators of gene expression in thoracic malignancies. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2012; 1819:836-45. [PMID: 22507242 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2012.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2012] [Revised: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 03/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Lung and esophageal cancers and malignant pleural mesotheliomas are highly lethal neoplasms that are leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Presently, limited information is available pertaining to epigenetic mechanisms mediating initiation and progression of these neoplasms. The following presentation will focus on the potential clinical relevance of epigenomic alterations in thoracic malignancies mediated by DNA methylation, perturbations in the histone code, and polycomb group proteins, as well as ongoing translational efforts to target epigenetic regulators of gene expression for treatment of these neoplasms. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chromatin in time and space.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Schrump
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Rm. 4-3940, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1201, Bethesda, MD 20892-1201, USA.
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70
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Abstract
CTCF is an evolutionary conserved and ubiquitously expressed protein that binds thousands of sites in the human genome. Ectopic expression of CTCF in various normal and tumoral human cell lines inhibits cell division and clonogenicity, with the consequence to consider CTCF a potential tumor-suppressor factor. In this review article, we focused on the molecular mechanisms engaged by CTCF to modulate the expression of several key-regulators of differentiation, cellular senescence, cell cycle control and progression, whose expression is frequently altered in tumors. Moreover, we discussed common features of CTCF at each tumor-related DNA-binding sequence, such as protein-partners, post-translational modifications, and distinctive epigenetic marks establishment. The investigation of the molecular mechanisms engaged by CTCF to modulate tumor-related genes emphasizes the cell-type dependency of its tumor suppressor role. Indeed, the ability of CTCF to bind their promoters strictly depends by cell-type features as DNA methylation, BORIS-binding and post-translational modifications as PARYlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Paolo Fiorentino
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA
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71
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Makovski A, Yaffe E, Shpungin S, Nir U. Intronic promoter drives the BORIS-regulated expression of FerT in colon carcinoma cells. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:6100-12. [PMID: 22223638 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.327106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Fer is an intracellular tyrosine kinase that accumulates in most mammalian tissues. A truncated variant of Fer, FerT, is uniquely detected in spermatogenic cells and is absent from normal somatic tissues. Here, we show that in addition to Fer, FerT also accumulates in CC cells and in metastases derived from colorectal tumors, but not in normal human cells. Thus, FerT is a new member of the CTA protein family. Transcription of the ferT gene in CC cells was found to be driven by an intronic promoter residing in intron 10 of the fer gene and to be regulated by another CTA, the Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites (BORIS) transcription factor. BORIS binds to the ferT promoter and down-regulation of BORIS significantly decreases the expression of ferT in CC cells. Accumulation of the ferT RNA was also regulated by the DNA methylation status and paralleled the expression profile of the boris transcript. Accordingly, the intronic ferT promoter was found to be hypomethylated in cancer cells expressing the FerT protein, by comparison with non-expressers. Collectively, we show here that FerT is a new CTA whose accumulation in CC cells, commonly considered low CTA expressers, is controlled by a novel transcription regulatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adar Makovski
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel
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72
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Yang CH, Cheng YH, Chuang LY, Chang HW. A combined bisulfite restriction analysis bioinformatics tool: methyl-typing. Methods Mol Biol 2011; 791:73-88. [PMID: 21913072 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-316-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we introduce our developed freeware tool Methyl-Typing. It provides methylation-related bioinformatics with a special focus on combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA). We give an overview of the implementation and program modules for Methyl-Typing. Various databases and methylation-related functions are integrated into Methyl-Typing and a helpful example is illustrated in detail. Several input protocols and their outputs for COBRA-related information are demonstrated, such as the inputs of multiple gene names in official gene symbols, multiple accession numbers for nucleotide sequence retrieval, multiple template sequences in a free format, primer sequences, and file uploads. The program goal of Methyl-Typing is to provide computation and visualization of the essential information for COBRA assay so that methylation can easily be analyzed by COBRA. It is a fast and efficient tool for providing all possible methylation sites of restriction enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hong Yang
- Department of Electronic Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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73
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de Necochea-Campion R, Ghochikyan A, Josephs SF, Zacharias S, Woods E, Karimi-Busheri F, Alexandrescu DT, Chen CS, Agadjanyan MG, Carrier E. Expression of the epigenetic factor BORIS (CTCFL) in the human genome. J Transl Med 2011; 9:213. [PMID: 22168535 PMCID: PMC3264669 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BORIS, or CTCFL, the so called Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites because of the extensive homology in the central DNA binding region of the protein to the related regulator, CTCF, is expressed in early gametogenesis and in multiple cancers but not in differentiated somatic cells. Thus it is a member of the cancer testes antigen group (CTAs). Since BORIS and CTCF target common DNA binding sites, these proteins function on two levels, the first level is their regulation via the methylation context of the DNA target site and the second level is their distinct and different epigenetic associations due to differences in the non-homologous termini of the proteins. The regulation on both of these levels is extensive and complex and the sphere of influence of each of these proteins is associated with vastly different cellular signaling processes. On the level of gene expression, BORIS has three known promoters and multiple spliced mRNAs which adds another level of complexity to this intriguing regulator. BORIS expression is observed in the majority of cancer tissues and cell lines analyzed up to today. The expression profile and essential role of BORIS in cancer make this molecule very attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. This review summarizes what is known about BORIS regarding its expression, structure, and function and then presents some theoretical considerations with respect to its genome wide influence and its potential for use as a vaccine for cancer immunotherapy.
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74
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Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a key transcriptional regulator and therapeutic target in prostate cancer. During androgen deprivation therapy to treat metastatic prostate cancer, surviving cells acquire increased AR signaling through a variety of mechanisms, one of which is enhanced interactions with AR coactivators. One recently identified AR-specific coregulator expressed only in human and nonhuman primates is the melanoma antigen gene protein-A11 (MAGE-11). MAGE-11 increases AR transcriptional activity through direct interactions with AR and other coactivators, and its levels increase during prostate cancer progression to castration-recurrent growth. The MAGE-11 gene is located at Xq28 on the human X chromosome as part of an X-linked MAGE gene family of cancer-testis antigens. MAGE-11 stabilizes AR when androgen levels are low, and functions in a transcriptional hub to promote AR-mediated gene activation. The evolutionary development and organization of the MAGE-11 gene within the cancer-testis antigen family suggests that MAGE-11 provides a gain-of-function to AR among primates in both normal physiology and cancer, and may serve as a therapeutic target in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Wilson
- Laboratories for Reproductive Biology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Departments of Pediatrics, and Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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75
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Abstract
The success of immunotherapy in Hodgkin lymphoma is hampered partly by limited expression of tumor-specific antigens in the malignant cells. One strategy to increase tumor immunogenicity may be to enhance the expression of Hodgkin lymphoma-specific antigens such as MAGE-A4 using epigenetic-modifying drugs in combination with cancer testis antigen-specific immunotherapy.
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76
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Martin-Kleiner I. BORIS in human cancers -- a review. Eur J Cancer 2011; 48:929-35. [PMID: 22019212 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2011.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Revised: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Brother of the regulator of the imprinted site (BORIS) or CTCFL is an 11 zinc finger (ZF) protein, which is considered to be a new oncogene. It is a paralogue of CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), generated by a duplication event. BORIS is highly expressed in primary spermatocytes, although it is silenced at later stages of spermatogenesis. BORIS has either not been found in normal human tissues or cells or has been detected at very low levels. The expression of the BORIS gene is predominantly controlled by DNA-methylation, while its activation requires the demethylation of its promoter. Re-expression of BORIS in cancers is due to the hypomethylation of its promoter. High expression of BORIS protein and RNA correlates with the tumour size and grade in cancer patients. High percentages of BORIS transcripts were detected in breast, endometrial, prostatic and colon cancer patients. Lower percentages of BORIS were found in patients with melanoma and cancers of the head and neck. The expression of BORIS varied from low to high in lung, colon and ovarian cancer, melanoma and leukaemic cell lines. Lower expressions of BORIS were found in head and neck, breast, kidney, bladder, testicular and prostate carcinoma cell lines. An inhibitor of DNA methylation, 5-aza-2'deoxy-cytidine (5-azadC), and histone deacetylase inhibitors induced or enhanced the expression of BORIS in various carcinoma cell lines. The silencing of BORIS induced apoptosis in tumorous cell lines. BORIS antitumor vaccines have been tested in mice with several cancers, based on the deletion of the DNA-binding ZF-region of the BORIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Martin-Kleiner
- Ruder Bošković Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, P.O. Box 180, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia.
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77
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Abstract
Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes with broad functions in nuclear biology. Based on the ability of insulator proteins to interact with each other, it was originally found that insulators form loops that bring together distant regions of the genome. Data from genome-wide localization studies indicate that insulator proteins can be present in intergenic regions as well as at the 5', introns or 3' of genes, suggesting a variety of roles for insulator loops in chromosome biology. Recent results suggest that insulators mediate intra- and interchromosomal interactions to affect transcription, imprinting, and recombination. Cells have developed mechanisms to control insulator activity by recruiting specialized proteins or by covalent modification of core components. It is then possible that insulator-mediated interactions set up cell-specific blueprints of nuclear organization that may contribute to the establishment of different patterns of gene expression during cell differentiation and development. As a consequence, disruption of insulator activity could result in the development of cancer or other disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingping Yang
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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78
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Jones TA, Ogunkolade BW, Szary J, Aarum J, Mumin MA, Patel S, Pieri CA, Sheer D. Widespread expression of BORIS/CTCFL in normal and cancer cells. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22399. [PMID: 21811597 PMCID: PMC3139640 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2011] [Accepted: 06/21/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BORIS (CTCFL) is the paralog of CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor; NM_006565), a ubiquitously expressed DNA-binding protein with diverse roles in gene expression and chromatin organisation. BORIS and CTCF have virtually identical zinc finger domains, yet display major differences in their respective C- and N-terminal regions. Unlike CTCF, BORIS expression has been reported only in the testis and certain malignancies, leading to its classification as a “cancer-testis” antigen. However, the expression pattern of BORIS is both a significant and unresolved question in the field of DNA binding proteins. Here, we identify BORIS in the cytoplasm and nucleus of a wide range of normal and cancer cells. We compare the localization of CTCF and BORIS in the nucleus and demonstrate enrichment of BORIS within the nucleolus, inside the nucleolin core structure and adjacent to fibrillarin in the dense fibrillar component. In contrast, CTCF is not enriched in the nucleolus. Live imaging of cells transiently transfected with GFP tagged BORIS confirmed the nucleolar accumulation of BORIS. While BORIS transcript levels are low compared to CTCF, its protein levels are readily detectable. These findings show that BORIS expression is more widespread than previously believed, and suggest a role for BORIS in nucleolar function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania A. Jones
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Babatunji W. Ogunkolade
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jaroslaw Szary
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Johan Aarum
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad A. Mumin
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shyam Patel
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher A. Pieri
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Denise Sheer
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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79
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Rao M, Chinnasamy N, Hong JA, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Xi S, Liu F, Marquez VE, Morgan RA, Schrump DS. Inhibition of histone lysine methylation enhances cancer-testis antigen expression in lung cancer cells: implications for adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. Cancer Res 2011; 71:4192-204. [PMID: 21546573 PMCID: PMC3116976 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-2442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-testis antigens (CTA), such as NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A1, and MAGE-A3, are immunogenic proteins encoded by genes, which are normally expressed only in male germ cells but are activated by ill-defined epigenetic mechanisms in human tumors, including lung cancers. Previously, we reported induction of these CTAs in cancer cells, but not normal cells, by DNA-demethylating agents and histone deacetylase inhibitors using clinically achievable exposure conditions. In the present study, we evaluated chromatin alterations associated with repression/activation of cancer-testis genes in lung cancer cells to further develop gene-induction regimens for cancer immunotherapy. Repression of NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A1, and MAGE-A3 coincided with DNA hypermethylation, recruitment, and binding of polycomb-group proteins, and histone heterochromatin modifications within the promoters of these genes. Derepression coincided with DNA demethylation, dissociation of polycomb proteins, and presence of euchromatin marks within the respective promoters. Short hairpin RNAs were used to inhibit several histone methyltransferases (KMT) and histone demethylases (KDM) that mediate histone methylation and repress gene expression. Knockdown of KMT6, KDM1, or KDM5B markedly enhanced deoxyazacytidine (DAC)-mediated activation of these cancer-testis genes in lung cancer cells. DZNep, a pharmacologic inhibitor of KMT6 expression, recapitulated the effects of KMT6 knockdown. Following DAC-DZNep exposure, lung cancer cells were specifically recognized and lysed by allogeneic lymphocytes expressing recombinant T-cell receptors recognizing NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3. Combining DNA-demethylating agents with compounds, such as DZNep, that modulate histone lysine methylation may provide a novel epigenetic strategy to augment cancer-testis gene expression as an adjunct to adoptive cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahadev Rao
- Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Nachimuthu Chinnasamy
- Tumor Immunology Sections, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Julie A. Hong
- Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Mary Zhang
- Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Sichuan Xi
- Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Fang Liu
- Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Victor E. Marquez
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Richard A. Morgan
- Tumor Immunology Sections, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
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80
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Kosaka-Suzuki N, Suzuki T, Pugacheva EM, Vostrov AA, Morse HC, Loukinov D, Lobanenkov V. Transcription factor BORIS (Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites) directly induces expression of a cancer-testis antigen, TSP50, through regulated binding of BORIS to the promoter. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:27378-88. [PMID: 21659515 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.243576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are normally expressed in testis but are aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancers with varying frequency. More than 100 proteins have been identified as CTA including testes-specific protease 50 (TSP50) and the testis-specific paralogue of CCCTC-binding factor, BORIS (brother of the regulator of imprinted sites). Because many CTAs are considered as excellent targets for tumor immunotherapy, understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing their expression is important. In this study we demonstrate that BORIS is directly responsible for the transcriptional activation of TSP50. We found two BORIS binding sites in the TSP50 promoter that are highly conserved between mouse and human. Mutations of the binding sites resulted in loss of BORIS binding and the ability of BORIS to activate the promoter. However, although expression of BORIS was essential, it was not sufficient for high expression of TSP50 in cancer cells. Further studies showed that binding of BORIS to the target sites was methylation-independent but was diminished by nucleosomal occupancy consistent with the findings that high expression of TSP50 was associated with increased DNase I sensitivity and high BORIS occupancy of the promoter. These findings indicate that BORIS-induced expression of TSP50 is governed by accessibility and binding of BORIS to the promoter. To our knowledge this is the first report of regulated expression of one CTA by another to be validated in a physiological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuki Kosaka-Suzuki
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA
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81
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Mkrtichyan M, Ghochikyan A, Davtyan H, Movsesyan N, Loukinov D, Lobanenkov V, Cribbs DH, Laust AK, Nelson EL, Agadjanyan MG. Cancer-testis antigen, BORIS based vaccine delivered by dendritic cells is extremely effective against a very aggressive and highly metastatic mouse mammary carcinoma. Cell Immunol 2011; 270:188-97. [PMID: 21641588 PMCID: PMC3156877 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2011.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Revised: 04/21/2011] [Accepted: 05/06/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Here, we analyze for the first time the immunological and therapeutic efficacy of a dendritic cell (DC) vaccine based on a cancer-testis antigen, Brother of regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS), an epigenetically acting tumor-promoting transcription factor. Vaccination of mice with DC loaded with truncated form of BORIS (DC/mBORIS) after 4T1 mammary tumor implantation induced strong anti-cancer immunity, inhibited tumor growth (18.75% of mice remained tumor-free), and dramatically lowered the number of spontaneous clonogenic metastases (50% of mice remained metastases-free). Higher numbers of immune effector CD4 and CD8 T cells infiltrated the tumors of vaccinated mice vs. control animals. Vaccination significantly decreased the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) infiltrating the tumor sites, but not MDSCs in the spleens of vaccinated animals. These data suggest that DC-based mBORIS vaccination strategies have significant anti-tumor activity in a therapeutic setting and will be more effective when combined with agents to attenuate tumor-associated immune suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikayel Mkrtichyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Nina Movsesyan
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Dmitry Loukinov
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Victor Lobanenkov
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - David H. Cribbs
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Amanda K. Laust
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Edward L. Nelson
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Michael G. Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
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82
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Bhan S, Negi SS, Shao C, Glazer CA, Chuang A, Gaykalova DA, Sun W, Sidransky D, Ha PK, Califano JA. BORIS binding to the promoters of cancer testis antigens, MAGEA2, MAGEA3, and MAGEA4, is associated with their transcriptional activation in lung cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 17:4267-76. [PMID: 21558405 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-11-0653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Aim of this study was to determine whether BORIS (Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites) is a regulator of MAGEA2, MAGEA3, and MAGEA4 genes in lung cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Changes in expression of MAGEA genes upon BORIS induction/knockdown were studied. Recruitment of BORIS and changes in histone modifications at their promoters upon BORIS induction were analyzed. Luciferase assays were used to study their activation by BORIS. Changes in methylation at these promoters upon BORIS induction were evaluated. RESULTS Alteration of BORIS expression by induction/knockdown directly correlated with expression of MAGEA genes. BORIS was enriched at their promoters in H1299 cells, which show high expression of these cancer testis antigens (CTA), compared with normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells which show low expression of the target CTAs. BORIS induction in A549 cells resulted in increased amounts of BORIS and activating histone modifications at their promoters along with a corresponding increase in their expression. Similarly, BORIS binding at these promoters in H1299 correlates with enrichment of activating modifications, whereas absence of BORIS binding in NHBE is associated with enrichment of repressive marks. BORIS induction of MAGEA3 was associated with promoter demethylation, but no methylation changes were noted with activation of MAGEA2 and MAGEA4. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that BORIS positively regulates these CTAs by binding and inducing a shift to a more open chromatin conformation with promoter demethylation for MAGEA3 or independent of promoter demethylation in case of MAGEA2 and MAGEA4 and may be a key effector involved in their derepression in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheetal Bhan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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83
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Wang J, Emadali A, Le Bescont A, Callanan M, Rousseaux S, Khochbin S. Induced malignant genome reprogramming in somatic cells by testis-specific factors. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2011; 1809:221-5. [PMID: 21530697 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2011.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2011] [Revised: 04/04/2011] [Accepted: 04/06/2011] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Germline cell differentiation is controlled by a specific set of genes whose expression is tightly locked into the repressed state in somatic cells. Large-scale epigenome alterations, now evidenced in nearly all cancers, lead to aberrant activation of these normally silenced genes, as attested by the many reports describing the expression of testis-specific factors, known as cancer-testis genes, in various cancer cells. Here, based on the literature, we argue that off-context activity of some of the testis-specific epigenome regulators can reprogram the somatic cell epigenome toward a malignant state by favoring self-renewal and sustaining cell proliferation under stressful conditions, thereby constituting a major oncogenic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- INSERM, U823, Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1, Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, F-38706, France
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84
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Woloszynska-Read A, Zhang W, Yu J, Link PA, Mhawech-Fauceglia P, Collamat G, Akers SN, Ostler KR, Godley LA, Odunsi K, Karpf AR. Coordinated cancer germline antigen promoter and global DNA hypomethylation in ovarian cancer: association with the BORIS/CTCF expression ratio and advanced stage. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 17:2170-80. [PMID: 21296871 PMCID: PMC3079045 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-2315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer germline (CG) antigens are frequently expressed and hypomethylated in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), but the relationship of this phenomenon to global DNA hypomethylation is unknown. In addition, the potential mechanisms leading to DNA hypomethylation, and its clinicopathologic significance in EOC, have not been determined. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used quantitative mRNA expression and DNA methylation analyses to determine the relationship between expression and methylation of X-linked (MAGE-A1, NY-ESO-1, XAGE-1) and autosomal (BORIS, SOHLH2) CG genes, global DNA methylation (5mdC levels, LINE-1, Alu, and Sat-α methylation), and clinicopathology, using 75 EOC samples. In addition, we examined the association between these parameters and a number of mechanisms proposed to contribute to DNA hypomethylation in cancer. RESULTS CG genes were coordinately expressed in EOC and this was associated with promoter DNA hypomethylation. Hypomethylation of CG promoters was highly correlated and strongly associated with LINE-1 and Alu methylation, moderately with 5mdC levels, and rarely with Sat-α methylation. BORIS and LINE-1 hypomethylation, and BORIS expression, were associated with advanced stage. GADD45A expression, MTHFR genotype, DNMT3B isoform expression, and BORIS mRNA expression did not associate with methylation parameters. In contrast, the BORIS/CTCF expression ratio was associated with DNA hypomethylation, and furthermore correlated with advanced stage and decreased survival. CONCLUSIONS DNA hypomethylation coordinately affects CG antigen gene promoters and specific repetitive DNA elements in EOC, and correlates with advanced stage disease. The BORIS/CTCF mRNA expression ratio is closely associated with DNA hypomethylation and confers poor prognosis in EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Woloszynska-Read
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Wa Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Jihnhee Yu
- Department of Biostatistics, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
| | - Petra A. Link
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | | | - Golda Collamat
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Stacey N. Akers
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Kelly R. Ostler
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Lucy A. Godley
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Kunle Odunsi
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Adam R. Karpf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263
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85
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Yoon SL, Roh YG, Lee SH, Kim SH, Kim MC, Kim SJ, Leem SH. Analysis of promoter methylation and polymorphic minisatellites of BORIS and lack of association with gastric cancer. DNA Cell Biol 2011; 30:691-8. [PMID: 21495859 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2011.1248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BORIS is a member of the cancer-testis gene family that comprises genes normally expressed only in testis but abnormally activated in different malignancies. In this study, we examined the relation between BORIS expression and gastric cancer, which is the most common cancer in Korea. Abnormal BORIS expression in the patient's gastric cancer tissues was observed. We checked the methylation status of the gene in gastric cancer tissue, because the regulation by methylation in its CpG islands is well known for BORIS. However, there was no correlation between the methylation status and gene expression. Then, we focused on the minisatellites (variable number of tandem repeats) of BORIS as another possible regulator for this abnormal expression. Previously, we reported the characterization of BORIS-MS2 and determined the frequency of alleles in cancer patients. A case-control study was performed using DNA from 774 controls and 496 patients with gastric cancer. There was no significant difference observed in the overall distribution of minisatellite alleles. These results suggest that additional different regulators for the abnormal BORIS expression in gastric cancer may exist. Additionally, we performed a segregation analysis of BORIS-MS2 with genomic DNA obtained from two generations of five families and from three generations of two families. BORIS-MS2 alleles were transmitted through meiosis following Mendelian inheritance, which suggests that this polymorphic minisatellite could be a useful marker for paternity mapping and DNA fingerprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se-Lyun Yoon
- Department of Biology and Biomedical Science, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea
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86
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Easwaran HP, Baylin SB. Role of nuclear architecture in epigenetic alterations in cancer. COLD SPRING HARBOR SYMPOSIA ON QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2011; 75:507-15. [PMID: 21447817 DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2010.75.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that cancer results from an array of epigenetic and genetic alterations, particularly aberrant epigenetic patterns that are a hallmark of every cancer type studied. Another well-known feature of cancer cells is the array of abnormalities in their nuclear structure. Although it is known that nuclear structure has an important role in the regulation of gene expression, we know little about the direct relationship between nuclear structural alterations and aberrant epigenetic patterns in cancer. Here, we discuss some of the recent studies from our lab and others to understand the relationship between alterations of nuclear architecture and aberrant epigenetic patterns in cancer cells. Although the precise relationship remains elusive, we suggest that changes in nuclear structure and composition could alter long-range genomic interactions and cause global epigenetic changes during tumorigenesis. We emphasize the need for further studies to elucidate the direct relationship between nuclear structure alterations and aberrant epigenetic patterns in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- H P Easwaran
- The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins University, Bunting Blaustein Cancer Research Building, Baltimore, Maryland 21231-1000, USA
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87
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Fratta E, Coral S, Covre A, Parisi G, Colizzi F, Danielli R, Nicolay HJM, Sigalotti L, Maio M. The biology of cancer testis antigens: putative function, regulation and therapeutic potential. Mol Oncol 2011; 5:164-82. [PMID: 21376678 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2011.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2010] [Revised: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 02/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer testis antigens (CTA) are a large family of tumor-associated antigens expressed in human tumors of different histological origin, but not in normal tissues except for testis and placenta. This tumor-restricted pattern of expression, together with their strong in vivo immunogenicity, identified CTA as ideal targets for tumor-specific immunotherapeutic approaches, and prompted the development of several clinical trials of CTA-based vaccine therapy. Driven by this practical clinical interest, a more detailed characterization of CTA biology has been recently undertaken. So far, at least 70 families of CTA, globally accounting for about 140 members, have been identified. Most of these CTA are expressed during spermatogenesis, but their function is still largely unknown. Epigenetic events, particularly DNA methylation, appear to be the primary mechanism regulating CTA expression in both normal and transformed cells, as well as in cancer stem cells. In view of the growing interest in CTA biology, the aim of this review is to provide the most recent information on their expression, regulation and function, together with a brief summary of the major clinical trials involving CTA as therapeutic agents. The pharmacologic modulation of CTA expression profiles on neoplastic cells by DNA hypomethylating drugs will also be discussed as a feasible approach to design new combination therapies potentially able to improve the clinical efficacy of currently adopted CTA-based immunotherapeutic regimens in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Fratta
- Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Via Franco Gallini 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy
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88
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Pugacheva EM, Suzuki T, Pack SD, Kosaka-Suzuki N, Yoon J, Vostrov AA, Barsov E, Strunnikov AV, Morse HC, Loukinov D, Lobanenkov V. The structural complexity of the human BORIS gene in gametogenesis and cancer. PLoS One 2010; 5:e13872. [PMID: 21079786 PMCID: PMC2975627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2010] [Accepted: 10/11/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BORIS/CTCFL is a paralogue of CTCF, the major epigenetic regulator of vertebrate genomes. BORIS is normally expressed only in germ cells but is aberrantly activated in numerous cancers. While recent studies demonstrated that BORIS is a transcriptional activator of testis-specific genes, little is generally known about its biological and molecular functions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here we show that BORIS is expressed as 23 isoforms in germline and cancer cells. The isoforms are comprised of alternative N- and C-termini combined with varying numbers of zinc fingers (ZF) in the DNA binding domain. The patterns of BORIS isoform expression are distinct in germ and cancer cells. Isoform expression is activated by downregulation of CTCF, upregulated by reduction in CpG methylation caused by inactivation of DNMT1 or DNMT3b, and repressed by activation of p53. Studies of ectopically expressed isoforms showed that all are translated and localized to the nucleus. Using the testis-specific cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST) promoter and the IGF2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR), it was shown that binding of BORIS isoforms to DNA targets in vitro is methylation-sensitive and depends on the number and specific composition of ZF. The ability to bind target DNA and the presence of a specific long amino terminus (N258) in different isoforms are necessary and sufficient to activate CST transcription. Comparative sequence analyses revealed an evolutionary burst in mammals with strong conservation of BORIS isoproteins among primates. CONCLUSIONS The extensive repertoire of spliced BORIS variants in humans that confer distinct DNA binding and transcriptional activation properties, and their differential patterns of expression among germ cells and neoplastic cells suggest that the gene is involved in a range of functionally important aspects of both normal gametogenesis and cancer development. In addition, a burst in isoform diversification may be evolutionarily tied to unique aspects of primate speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena M Pugacheva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America.
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van de Nobelen S, Rosa-Garrido M, Leers J, Heath H, Soochit W, Joosen L, Jonkers I, Demmers J, van der Reijden M, Torrano V, Grosveld F, Delgado MD, Renkawitz R, Galjart N, Sleutels F. CTCF regulates the local epigenetic state of ribosomal DNA repeats. Epigenetics Chromatin 2010; 3:19. [PMID: 21059229 PMCID: PMC2993708 DOI: 10.1186/1756-8935-3-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2010] [Accepted: 11/08/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) is a highly conserved zinc finger protein, which is involved in chromatin organization, local histone modifications, and RNA polymerase II-mediated gene transcription. CTCF may act by binding tightly to DNA and recruiting other proteins to mediate its various functions in the nucleus. To further explore the role of this essential factor, we used a mass spectrometry-based approach to screen for novel CTCF-interacting partners. Results Using biotinylated CTCF as bait, we identified upstream binding factor (UBF) and multiple other components of the RNA polymerase I complex as potential CTCF-interacting partners. Interestingly, CTCFL, the testis-specific paralog of CTCF, also binds UBF. The interaction between CTCF(L) and UBF is direct, and requires the zinc finger domain of CTCF(L) and the high mobility group (HMG)-box 1 and dimerization domain of UBF. Because UBF is involved in RNA polymerase I-mediated ribosomal (r)RNA transcription, we analyzed CTCF binding to the rDNA repeat. We found that CTCF bound to a site upstream of the rDNA spacer promoter and preferred non-methylated over methylated rDNA. DNA binding by CTCF in turn stimulated binding of UBF. Absence of CTCF in cultured cells resulted in decreased association of UBF with rDNA and in nucleolar fusion. Furthermore, lack of CTCF led to reduced binding of RNA polymerase I and variant histone H2A.Z near the rDNA spacer promoter, a loss of specific histone modifications, and diminished transcription of non-coding RNA from the spacer promoter. Conclusions UBF is the first common interaction partner of CTCF and CTCFL, suggesting a role for these proteins in chromatin organization of the rDNA repeats. We propose that CTCF affects RNA polymerase I-mediated events globally by controlling nucleolar number, and locally by regulating chromatin at the rDNA spacer promoter, similar to RNA polymerase II promoters. CTCF may load UBF onto rDNA, thereby forming part of a network that maintains rDNA genes poised for transcription.
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90
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Xi S, Yang M, Tao Y, Xu H, Shan J, Inchauste S, Zhang M, Mercedes L, Hong JA, Rao M, Schrump DS. Cigarette smoke induces C/EBP-β-mediated activation of miR-31 in normal human respiratory epithelia and lung cancer cells. PLoS One 2010; 5:e13764. [PMID: 21048943 PMCID: PMC2966442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited information is available regarding mechanisms by which miRNAs contribute to pulmonary carcinogenesis. The present study was undertaken to examine expression and function of miRNAs induced by cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) in normal human respiratory epithelia and lung cancer cells. METHODOLOGY Micro-array and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) techniques were used to assess miRNA and host gene expression in cultured cells, and surgical specimens. Software-guided analysis, RNA cross-link immunoprecipitation (CLIP), 3' UTR luciferase reporter assays, qRT-PCR, focused super-arrays and western blot techniques were used to identify and confirm targets of miR-31. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) techniques were used to evaluate histone marks and transcription factors within the LOC554202 promoter. Cell count and xenograft experiments were used to assess effects of miR-31 on proliferation and tumorigenicity of lung cancer cells. RESULTS CSC significantly increased miR-31 expression and activated LOC554202 in normal respiratory epithelia and lung cancer cells; miR-31 and LOC554202 expression persisted following discontinuation of CSC exposure. miR-31 and LOC554202 expression levels were significantly elevated in lung cancer specimens relative to adjacent normal lung tissues. CLIP and reporter assays demonstrated direct interaction of miR-31 with Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) and DACT-3. Over-expression of miR-31 markedly diminished Dkk-1 and DACT3 expression levels in normal respiratory epithelia and lung cancer cells. Knock-down of miR-31 increased Dkk-1 and DACT3 levels, and abrogated CSC-mediated decreases in Dkk-1 and DACT-3 expression. Furthermore, over-expression of miR-31 diminished SFRP1, SFRP4, and WIF-1, and increased Wnt-5a expression. CSC increased H3K4Me3, H3K9/14Ac and C/EBP-β levels within the LOC554202 promoter. Knock-down of C/EBP-β abrogated CSC-mediated activation of LOC554202. Over-expression of miR-31 significantly enhanced proliferation and tumorigenicity of lung cancer cells; knock-down of miR-31 inhibited growth of these cells. CONCLUSIONS Cigarette smoke induces expression of miR-31 targeting several antagonists of cancer stem cell signaling in normal respiratory epithelia and lung cancer cells. miR-31 functions as an oncomir during human pulmonary carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sichuan Xi
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Maocheng Yang
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yongguang Tao
- Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hong Xu
- Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jigui Shan
- Advanced Biomedical Computing Center, SAIC-Frederick, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Suzanne Inchauste
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mary Zhang
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Leandro Mercedes
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Julie A. Hong
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mahadev Rao
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David S. Schrump
- Thoracic Oncology Section, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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Cuffel C, Rivals JP, Zaugg Y, Salvi S, Seelentag W, Speiser DE, Liénard D, Monnier P, Romero P, Bron L, Rimoldi D. Pattern and clinical significance of cancer-testis gene expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2010; 128:2625-34. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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92
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Qiu X, Hother C, Ralfkiær UM, Søgaard A, Lu Q, Workman CT, Liang G, Jones PA, Grønbæk K. Equitoxic doses of 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine induce diverse immediate and overlapping heritable changes in the transcriptome. PLoS One 2010; 5. [PMID: 20927380 PMCID: PMC2947512 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2010] [Accepted: 09/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The hypomethylating agent 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza-CR) is the first drug to prolong overall survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Surprisingly, the deoxyribonucleoside analog 5-Aza-2′deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) did not have a similar effect on survival in a large clinical trial. Both drugs are thought to exert their effects after incorporation into DNA by covalent binding of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). While 5-Aza-CdR is incorporated into only DNA, 5-Aza-CR is also incorporated into RNA. Here, we have analyzed whether this difference in nucleic acid incorporation may influence the capacities of these drugs to regulate the expression of mRNA and microRNAs (miRNA), which may potentially affect the activities of the drugs in patients. Methodology/Principal Findings A hematopoietic (HL-60; acute myeloid leukemia) and a solid (T24; transitional cell carcinoma) cancer cell line were treated with equitoxic doses of 5-Aza-CR and 5-Aza-CdR for 24 hrs, and the immediate (day 2) and lasting (day 8) effects on RNA expression examined. There was considerable overlap between the RNAs heritably upregulated by both drugs on day 8 but more RNAs were stably induced by the deoxy analog. Both drugs strongly induced expression of cancer testis antigens. On day 2 more RNAs were downregulated by 5-Aza-CR, particularly at higher doses. A remarkable downregulation of miRNAs and a significant upregulation of tRNA synthetases and other genes involved in amino acid metabolism was observed in T24 cells. Conclusions/Significance Overall, this suggests that significant differences exist in the immediate action of the two drugs, however the dominant pattern of the lasting, and possible heritable changes, is overlapping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangning Qiu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | | | | | | | - Qianjin Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Christopher T. Workman
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Gangning Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Peter A. Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Kirsten Grønbæk
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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Renaud S, Loukinov D, Alberti L, Vostrov A, Kwon YW, Bosman FT, Lobanenkov V, Benhattar J. BORIS/CTCFL-mediated transcriptional regulation of the hTERT telomerase gene in testicular and ovarian tumor cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 39:862-73. [PMID: 20876690 PMCID: PMC3035453 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase activity, not detectable in somatic cells but frequently activated during carcinogenesis, confers immortality to tumors. Mechanisms governing expression of the catalytic subunit hTERT, the limiting factor for telomerase activity, still remain unclear. We previously proposed a model in which the binding of the transcription factor CTCF to the two first exons of hTERT results in transcriptional inhibition in normal cells. This inhibition is abrogated, however, by methylation of CTCF binding sites in 85% of tumors. Here, we showed that hTERT was unmethylated in testicular and ovarian tumors and in derivative cell lines. We demonstrated that CTCF and its paralogue, BORIS/CTCFL, were both present in the nucleus of the same cancer cells and bound to the first exon of hTERT in vivo. Moreover, exogenous BORIS expression in normal BORIS-negative cells was sufficient to activate hTERT transcription with an increasing number of cell passages. Thus, expression of BORIS was sufficient to allow hTERT transcription in normal cells and to counteract the inhibitory effect of CTCF in testicular and ovarian tumor cells. These results define an important contribution of BORIS to immortalization during tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Renaud
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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94
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Akers SN, Odunsi K, Karpf AR. Regulation of cancer germline antigen gene expression: implications for cancer immunotherapy. Future Oncol 2010; 6:717-32. [PMID: 20465387 DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer germline (CG; also known as cancer-testis) antigen genes are normally expressed in germ cells and trophoblast tissues and are aberrantly expressed in a variety of human malignancies. CG antigen genes have high clinical relevance as they encode a class of immunogenic and highly selective tumor antigens. CG antigen-directed immunotherapy is undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of a number of solid tumor malignancies and has been demonstrated to be safe, provoke immune responses and be of therapeutic benefit. Achieving an improved understanding of the mechanisms of CG antigen gene regulation will facilitate the continued development of targeted therapeutic approaches against tumors expressing these antigens. Substantial evidence suggests epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation, as a primary regulator of CG antigen gene expression in normal and cancer cells as well as in stem cells. The roles of sequence-specific transcription factors and signal transduction pathways in controlling CG antigen gene expression are less clear but are emerging. A combinatorial therapeutic approach involving epigenetic modulatory drugs and CG antigen immunotherapy is suggested based on these data and is being actively pursued. In this article, we review the mechanisms of CG antigen gene regulation and discuss the implications of these mechanisms for the development of cancer immunotherapy approaches targeting CG antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey N Akers
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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95
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Hermo L, Pelletier RM, Cyr DG, Smith CE. Surfing the wave, cycle, life history, and genes/proteins expressed by testicular germ cells. Part 5: intercellular junctions and contacts between germs cells and Sertoli cells and their regulatory interactions, testicular cholesterol, and genes/proteins associated with more than one germ cell generation. Microsc Res Tech 2010; 73:409-94. [PMID: 19941291 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In the testis, cell adhesion and junctional molecules permit specific interactions and intracellular communication between germ and Sertoli cells and apposed Sertoli cells. Among the many adhesion family of proteins, NCAM, nectin and nectin-like, catenins, and cadherens will be discussed, along with gap junctions between germ and Sertoli cells and the many members of the connexin family. The blood-testis barrier separates the haploid spermatids from blood borne elements. In the barrier, the intercellular junctions consist of many proteins such as occludin, tricellulin, and claudins. Changes in the expression of cell adhesion molecules are also an essential part of the mechanism that allows germ cells to move from the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubule to the adluminal compartment thus crossing the blood-testis barrier and well-defined proteins have been shown to assist in this process. Several structural components show interactions between germ cells to Sertoli cells such as the ectoplasmic specialization which are more closely related to Sertoli cells and tubulobulbar complexes that are processes of elongating spermatids embedded into Sertoli cells. Germ cells also modify several Sertoli functions and this also appears to be the case for residual bodies. Cholesterol plays a significant role during spermatogenesis and is essential for germ cell development. Lastly, we list genes/proteins that are expressed not only in any one specific generation of germ cells but across more than one generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Hermo
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B2.
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96
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Campbell AE, Martinez SR, Miranda JJL. Molecular architecture of CTCFL. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 396:648-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.04.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2010] [Accepted: 04/27/2010] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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97
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Hines WC, Bazarov AV, Mukhopadhyay R, Yaswen P. BORIS (CTCFL) is not expressed in most human breast cell lines and high grade breast carcinomas. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9738. [PMID: 20305816 PMCID: PMC2840027 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2009] [Accepted: 02/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BORIS (CTCFL) is the only known paralog of the versatile regulatory protein CTCF, a multifunctional DNA binding protein that mediates distinct gene regulatory functions involved in cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Unlike CTCF, the expression of BORIS is normally restricted to specific cells in testes (the only cells where CTCF is not expressed), where it may play a role in reprogramming the methylation pattern of male germ line DNA. Frequent amplification of the 20q13.2 region, which contains the BORIS gene, and expression of BORIS transcripts in diverse human tumors and cell lines have led to the hypothesis that aberrant expression of BORIS may play a role in tumorigenesis by interfering with CTCF functions. However, recent studies using more quantitative methods indicate low frequency of BORIS expression in melanoma, ovarian, prostate, and bladder carcinomas. To investigate the relationship between chromosome 20q13 amplification and BORIS mRNA levels within breast cancer cell lines and tissues, we developed a quantitative RT-PCR assay to measure the levels of BORIS mRNA. Endpoint RT-PCR assays were also used to investigate the possible expression of alternatively spliced variants. Using multiple primer sets and controls, we found that neither mature BORIS transcripts nor spliced variants are commonly expressed at detectable levels in malignant breast cells or tissues, although endogenous BORIS transcripts can be induced in MCF-7 cells following 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment. In conclusion, in most breast cancer cells, endogenous BORIS is unlikely to be expressed at sufficient levels to interfere with CTCF functions. Thus it is improbable that aberrant BORIS expression plays a role in most human breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C. Hines
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Alexey V. Bazarov
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Rituparna Mukhopadhyay
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Paul Yaswen
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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98
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Expression of a testis-specific form of Gal3st1 (CST), a gene essential for spermatogenesis, is regulated by the CTCF paralogous gene BORIS. Mol Cell Biol 2010; 30:2473-84. [PMID: 20231363 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01093-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, it was shown that the CTCF paralogous gene, BORIS (brother of the regulator of imprinted sites) is expressed in male germ cells, but its function in spermatogenesis has not been defined. To develop an understanding of the functional activities of BORIS, we generated BORIS knockout (KO) mice. Mice homozygous for the null allele had a defect in spermatogenesis that resulted in small testes associated with increased cell death. The defect was evident as early as postnatal day 21 and was manifested by delayed production of haploid cells. By gene expression profiling, we found that transcript levels for Gal3st1 (also known as cerebroside sulfotransferase [CST]), known to play a crucial role in meiosis, were dramatically reduced in BORIS KO testes. We found that CST is expressed in testis as a novel testis-specific isoform, CST form F(TS), that has a short exon 1f. We showed that BORIS bound to and activated the promoter of CST form F(TS). Mutation of the BORIS binding site in the promoter reduced the ability of BORIS to activate the promoter. These findings define transcriptional regulation of CST expression as a critical role for BORIS in spermatogenesis.
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99
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Abstract
The functional significance of changes in nuclear structure and organization in transformed cells remains one of the most enigmatic questions in cancer biology. In this review, we discuss relationships between nuclear organization and transcription in terms of the three-dimensional arrangement of genes in the interphase cancer nucleus and the regulatory functions of nuclear matrix proteins. We also analyse the role of nuclear topology in the generation of gene fusions. We speculate that this type of multi-layered analysis will one day provide a framework for a more comprehensive understanding of the genetic origins of cancer and the identification of new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott Lever
- Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London E1 2AT, UK
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100
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Epigenetic regulation of the human p53 gene promoter by the CTCF transcription factor in transformed cell lines. Oncogene 2010; 29:2217-27. [PMID: 20101205 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2009.509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor gene promoters has become a more frequent phenomenon in cancer than previously anticipated. In this study we addressed the mechanisms involved in the protection of the p53 tumor suppressor gene against epigenetic silencing in human transformed cell lines. We characterized a binding site for the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) in the human p53 gene promoter that contributes to its transcriptional expression, and has the ability to maintain this regulatory element in a local open chromatin configuration. In the absence of CTCF we observe the incorporation of repressive histone marks, such as H3K9me3, H3K27me3 and H4K20me3, in different sub-domains of the upstream regulatory sequence. This evidence suggests that CTCF protects the p53 gene promoter against repressive histone marks. Notably, no apparent direct correlation between repression and DNA hypermethylation has been detected. Together, we present evidence supporting the relevant role of CTCF in the epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor genes and cancer. We propose that CTCF is a strategic component responsible for the maintenance and segregation of epigenetic traits.
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