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Sabour-Takanlou M, Sabour-Takanlou L, Biray-Avci C. EZH2-associated tumor malignancy: A prominent target for cancer treatment. Clin Genet 2024. [PMID: 38881299 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The discussion in this review centers around the significant relationships between EZH2 and the initiation, progression, metastasis, metabolism, drug resistance, and immune regulation of cancer. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins, which encompass two primary Polycomb repressor complexes (PRC1 and PRC2), have been categorized. PRC2 consists mainly of four subunits, namely EZH2, EED, SUZ12, and RbAp46/48. As the crucial catalytic component within the PRC2 complex, EZH2 plays a pivotal role in controlling a wide range of biological processes. Overexpression/mutations of EZH2 have been detected in a wide variety of tumors. Several mechanisms of EZH regulation have been identified, including regulation EZH2 mRNA by miRNAs, LncRNAs, accessibility to DNA via DNA-binding proteins, post-translational modifications, and transcriptional regulation. EZH2 signaling triggers cancer progression and may intervene with anti-tumor immunity; therefore it has charmed attention as an effective therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Numerouss nucleic acid-based therapies have been used in the modification of EZH2. In addition to gene therapy approaches, pharmaceutical compounds can be used to target the EZH2 signaling pathway in the treatment of cancer. EZH2-associated tumor cells and immune cells enhance the effects of the immune response in a variety of human malignancies. The combination of epigenetic modifying agents, such as anti-EZH2 compounds with immunotherapy, could potentially be efficacious even in the context of immunosuppressive tumors. Summary, understanding the mechanisms underlying resistance to EZH2 inhibitors may facilitate the development of novel drugs to prevent or treat relapse in treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cigir Biray-Avci
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
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2
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Chen Y, Zhu H, Luo Y, Tong S, Liu Y. EZH2: The roles in targeted therapy and mechanisms of resistance in breast cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116624. [PMID: 38670045 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance presents a formidable challenge in the realm of breast cancer therapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a component of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), may serve as a key regulator in controlling drug resistance. EZH2 overexpression has been observed in breast cancer and many other malignancies, showing a strong correlation with poor outcomes. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms by which EZH2 regulates drug resistance, with a specific focus on breast cancer, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular processes. Additionally, we will discuss the current strategies and outcomes of targeting EZH2 using both single agents and combination therapies, with the goal of offering improved guidance for the clinical treatment of breast cancer patients who have developed drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Chen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Hongyan Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Yi Luo
- Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Biotheus Inc., Guangdong Province, Zhuhai 519080, PR China.
| | - Shuangmei Tong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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3
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Kaur P, Shankar E, Gupta S. EZH2-mediated development of therapeutic resistance in cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 586:216706. [PMID: 38331087 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) regulates gene expression and plays a definite role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and senescence. Overexpression of EZH2 has been found in various human malignancies, including prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers, and is associated with increased metastasis and poor prognosis. EZH2 catalyzes trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3) as a canonical role in a PRC2-dependent manner. This mechanism silences various tumor suppressor genes through EZH2-mediated histone lysine methyltransferase activity. As a non-canonical role, EZH2 partners with other signaling molecules to undergo post-translational modification to orchestrate its function as a co-activator playing a critical role in cancer progression. Dysregulation of EZH2 has also been associated with therapeutic resistance in cancer cells. Given the role of EZH2 in promoting carcinogenesis and therapy resistance, both canonical and non-canonical EZH2 inhibitors have been used to combat multiple cancer types. Moreover, combining EZH2 inhibitors with other therapeutic modalities have shown to enhance the therapeutic efficacy and overcome potential resistance mechanisms in these cancerous cells. Therefore, targeting EZH2 through canonical and non-canonical modes appears to be a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance efficacy and overcome resistance in multiple cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parminder Kaur
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44016, USA; The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, 44016, USA.
| | - Eswar Shankar
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44016, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Sanjay Gupta
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44016, USA; The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, 44016, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44016, USA; Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44016, USA; Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44016, USA; Division of General Medical Sciences, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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4
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Ozgun G, Yaras T, Akman B, Özden-Yılmaz G, Landman N, Karakülah G, van Lohuizen M, Senturk S, Erkek-Ozhan S. Retinoids and EZH2 inhibitors cooperate to orchestrate anti-oncogenic effects on bladder cancer cells. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:537-551. [PMID: 38233533 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00725-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The highly mutated nature of bladder cancers harboring mutations in chromatin regulatory genes opposing Polycomb-mediated repression highlights the importance of targeting EZH2 in bladder cancer. Furthermore, the critical role of the retinoic acid signaling pathway in the development and homeostasis of the urothelium, and the anti-oncogenic effects of retinoids are well established. Therefore, our aim is to simultaneously target EZH2 and retinoic acid signaling in bladder cancer to potentiate the therapeutic response. Here we report that this coordinated targeting strategy stimulates an anti-oncogenic profile, as reflected by inducing a synergistic reduction in cell viability that was associated with increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a cooperative and orchestrated manner. This study characterized anti-oncogenic transcriptional reprogramming centered on the transcriptional regulator CHOP by stimulating the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. We further portrayed a molecular mechanism whereby EZH2 maintains H3K27me3-mediated repression of a subset of genes involved in unfolded protein responses, reflecting the molecular mechanism underlying this co-targeting strategy. These findings highlight the importance of co-targeting the EZH2 and retinoic acid pathway in bladder cancers and encourage the design of novel treatments employing retinoids coupled with EZH2 inhibitors in bladder carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gizem Ozgun
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Tutku Yaras
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Burcu Akman
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gülden Özden-Yılmaz
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Nick Landman
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gökhan Karakülah
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Maarten van Lohuizen
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Serif Senturk
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
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5
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Song XQ, Chen BB, Jin YM, Wang CY. DNMT1-mediated epigenetic suppression of FBXO32 expression promoting cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) survival and esophageal cancer cell growth. Cell Cycle 2024; 23:262-278. [PMID: 38597826 PMCID: PMC11057636 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2024.2309022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common and serious form of cancer, and while DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) promotes DNA methylation and carcinogenesis, the role of F-box protein 32 (FBXO32) in EC and its regulation by DNMT1-mediated methylation is still unclear. FBXO32 expression was examined in EC cells with high DNMT1 expression using GSE163735 dataset. RT-qPCR assessed FBXO32 expression in normal and EC cells, and impact of higher FBXO32 expression on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was evaluated, along with EMT-related proteins. The xenograft model established by injecting EC cells transfected with FBXO32 was used to evaluate tumor growth, apoptosis, and tumor cells proliferation and metastasis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was employed to study the interaction between DNMT1 and FBXO32. HitPredict, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pulldown assay analyzed the interaction between FBXO32 and cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9). Finally, the ubiquitination assay identified CDK9 ubiquitination, and its half-life was measured using cycloheximide and confirmed through western blotting. DNMT1 negatively correlated with FBXO32 expression in esophageal cells. High FBXO32 expression was associated with better overall survival in patients. Knockdown of DNMT1 in EC cells increased FBXO32 expression and suppressed malignant phenotypes. FBXO32 repressed EC tumor growth and metastasis in mice. Enrichment of DNMT1 in FBXO32 promoter region led to increased DNA methylation and reduced transcription. Mechanistically, FBXO32 degraded CDK9 through promoting its ubiquitination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Qiang Song
- Department of Radiotherapy, Qinhuai Medical District, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Bin-Bin Chen
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine, Qinhuai Medical District, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Yong-Mei Jin
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Qinhuai Medical District, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Chang-Yong Wang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Qinhuai Medical District, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing, PR China
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Sprinzen L, Garcia F, Mela A, Lei L, Upadhyayula P, Mahajan A, Humala N, Manier L, Caprioli R, Quiñones-Hinojosa A, Casaccia P, Canoll P. EZH2 Inhibition Sensitizes IDH1R132H-Mutant Gliomas to Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor. Cells 2024; 13:219. [PMID: 38334611 PMCID: PMC10854521 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) is commonly mutated in lower-grade diffuse gliomas. The IDH1R132H mutation is an important diagnostic tool for tumor diagnosis and prognosis; however, its role in glioma development, and its impact on response to therapy, is not fully understood. We developed a murine model of proneural IDH1R132H-mutated glioma that shows elevated production of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) and increased trimethylation of lysine residue K27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) compared to IDH1 wild-type tumors. We found that using Tazemetostat to inhibit the methyltransferase for H3K27, Enhancer of Zeste 2 (EZH2), reduced H3K27me3 levels and increased acetylation on H3K27. We also found that, although the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) Panobinostat was less cytotoxic in IDH1R132H-mutated cells (either isolated from murine glioma or oligodendrocyte progenitor cells infected in vitro with a retrovirus expressing IDH1R132H) compared to IDH1-wild-type cells, combination treatment with Tazemetostat is synergistic in both mutant and wild-type models. These findings indicate a novel therapeutic strategy for IDH1-mutated gliomas that targets the specific epigenetic alteration in these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Sprinzen
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.S.); (F.G.); (A.M.)
| | - Franklin Garcia
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.S.); (F.G.); (A.M.)
| | - Angeliki Mela
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.S.); (F.G.); (A.M.)
| | - Liang Lei
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.L.); (P.U.); (N.H.)
| | - Pavan Upadhyayula
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.L.); (P.U.); (N.H.)
| | - Aayushi Mahajan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.L.); (P.U.); (N.H.)
| | - Nelson Humala
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.L.); (P.U.); (N.H.)
| | - Lisa Manier
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37240, USA; (L.M.); (R.C.)
| | - Richard Caprioli
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37240, USA; (L.M.); (R.C.)
| | | | - Patrizia Casaccia
- Neuroscience Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA;
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.S.); (F.G.); (A.M.)
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7
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Liu J, Fan H, Liang X, Chen Y. Polycomb repressor complex: Its function in human cancer and therapeutic target strategy. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 169:115897. [PMID: 37981459 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The Polycomb Repressor Complex (PRC) plays a pivotal role in gene regulation during development and disease, with dysregulation contributing significantly to various human cancers. The intricate interplay between PRC and cellular signaling pathways sheds light on cancer complexity. PRC presents promising therapeutic opportunities, with inhibitors undergoing rigorous evaluation in preclinical and clinical studies. In this review, we emphasize the critical role of PRC complex in gene regulation, particularly PcG proteins mediated chromatin compaction through phase separation. We also highlight the pathological implications of PRC complex dysregulation in various tumors, elucidating underlying mechanisms driving cancer progression. The burgeoning field of therapeutic strategies targeting PRC complexes, notably EZH2 inhibitors, has advanced significantly. However, we explore the need for combination therapies to enhance PRC targeted treatments efficacy, providing a glimpse into the future of cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingrong Liu
- Ganjiang Chinese Medicine Innovation Center, Nanchang 330000, China
| | - Hongjie Fan
- Ganjiang Chinese Medicine Innovation Center, Nanchang 330000, China
| | - Xinmiao Liang
- Ganjiang Chinese Medicine Innovation Center, Nanchang 330000, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Yang Chen
- Ganjiang Chinese Medicine Innovation Center, Nanchang 330000, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
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8
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Bresnahan ST, Galbraith D, Ma R, Anton K, Rangel J, Grozinger CM. Beyond conflict: Kinship theory of intragenomic conflict predicts individual variation in altruistic behaviour. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5823-5837. [PMID: 37746895 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Behavioural variation is essential for animals to adapt to different social and environmental conditions. The Kinship Theory of Intragenomic Conflict (KTIC) predicts that parent-specific alleles can support different behavioural strategies to maximize allele fitness. Previous studies, including in honey bees (Apis mellifera), supported predictions of the KTIC for parent-specific alleles to promote selfish behaviour. Here, we test the KTIC prediction that for altruism-promoting genes (i.e. those that promote behaviours that support the reproductive fitness of kin), the allele with the higher altruism optimum should be selected to be expressed while the other is silenced. In honey bee colonies, workers act altruistically when tending to the queen by performing a 'retinue' behaviour, distributing the queen's mandibular pheromone (QMP) throughout the hive. Workers exposed to QMP do not activate their ovaries, ensuring they care for the queen's brood instead of competing to lay unfertilized eggs. Due to the haplodiploid genetics of honey bees, the KTIC predicts that response to QMP is favoured by the maternal genome. We report evidence for parent-of-origin effects on the retinue response behaviour, ovarian development and gene expression in brains of worker honey bees exposed to QMP, consistent with the KTIC. Additionally, we show enrichment for genes with parent-of-origin expression bias within gene regulatory networks associated with variation in bees' response to QMP. Our study demonstrates that intragenomic conflict can shape diverse social behaviours and influence expression patterns of single genes as well as gene networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean T Bresnahan
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David Galbraith
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rong Ma
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kate Anton
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Juliana Rangel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Hosokawa M, Tetsumoto S, Yasui M, Kono Y, Ogawara KI. 3-deazaneplanocin A, a histone methyltransferase inhibitor, improved the chemoresistance induced under hypoxia in melanoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 677:26-30. [PMID: 37542772 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
One of common characteristics of solid tumors is low O2 level, so-called hypoxia, which plays a critical role in chemoresistance. Epigenetic mechanism such as DNA methylation and histone modification is involved in cancer development and progression. There is ample evidence that epigenetic drugs reversed acquired chemoresistance in cancer cells under normal O2 level, normoxia. However, it remains unknown whether epigenetic drugs improve acquired chemoresistance under hypoxia. The aim of our study was to investigate whether epigenetic drugs can improve the chemoresistance induced under hypoxia in cancer cells. In murine melanoma B16-BL6 (B16) cells, the culture under hypoxia, 1%O2 caused the elevated expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and its target genes. The chemoresistance to 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan) was also acquired under hypoxia in B16 cells. In addition, as epigenetic mechanisms, the protein expression of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), histone methyltransferase and its target histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 27 (H3K27Me3) level increased under hypoxia. The induction of H3K27Me3 under hypoxia was suppressed by EZH2 siRNA and 3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNep), an EZH2 inhibitor. Furthermore, both EZH2 siRNA and DZNep significantly reduced the cell viability after SN-38 treatment and improved the chemoresistance to SN-38 under hypoxia. These results indicated that the chemoresistance to SN-38 under hypoxia would arise from epigenetic mechanism, H3K27Me3 elevation due to EZH2 induction. In conclusion, a histone methyltransferase EZH2 inhibitor, DZNep was capable of tackling acquired chemoresistance via the suppression of histone methylation induced under hypoxic tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika Hosokawa
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, 658-8558, Japan.
| | - Sekai Tetsumoto
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, 658-8558, Japan
| | - Mirano Yasui
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, 658-8558, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kono
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, 658-8558, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Ogawara
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, 658-8558, Japan
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10
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Allegra A, Caserta S, Mirabile G, Gangemi S. Aging and Age-Related Epigenetic Drift in the Pathogenesis of Leukemia and Lymphomas: New Therapeutic Targets. Cells 2023; 12:2392. [PMID: 37830606 PMCID: PMC10572300 DOI: 10.3390/cells12192392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the traits of cancer cells is abnormal DNA methylation patterns. The idea that age-related epigenetic changes may partially explain the increased risk of cancer in the elderly is based on the observation that aging is also accompanied by comparable changes in epigenetic patterns. Lineage bias and decreased stem cell function are signs of hematopoietic stem cell compartment aging. Additionally, aging in the hematopoietic system and the stem cell niche have a role in hematopoietic stem cell phenotypes linked with age, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Understanding these changes will open up promising pathways for therapies against age-related disorders because epigenetic mechanisms are reversible. Additionally, the development of high-throughput epigenome mapping technologies will make it possible to identify the "epigenomic identity card" of every hematological disease as well as every patient, opening up the possibility of finding novel molecular biomarkers that can be used for diagnosis, prediction, and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Allegra
- Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (S.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Santino Caserta
- Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (S.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Mirabile
- Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (S.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy;
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11
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Wu CS, Chien YC, Yen CJ, Wu JY, Bai LY, Yu YL. EZH2-mediated epigenetic silencing of tumor-suppressive let-7c/miR-99a cluster by hepatitis B virus X antigen enhances hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:199. [PMID: 37689710 PMCID: PMC10493019 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03002-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-encoded X antigen, HBx, assists in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through complex mechanisms. Our results provide new insights into the EZH2 epigenetic repression of let-7c that promotes HCC migration induced by HBx. Thus, let-7c and HMGA2 represent key diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of HBV-related HCC. RESULTS We investigated the epigenetic regulation of let-7c, an important representative miRNA in liver tumor metastasis, in human HCC cells to verify the effect of HBx. Based on quantitative PCR (qPCR) of mRNA isolated from tumor and adjacent non-tumor liver tissues of 24 patients with HBV-related HCC, EZH2 expression was significantly overexpressed in most HCC tissues (87.5%). We executed a miRNA microarray analysis in paired HBV-related HCC tumor and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissue from six of these patients and identified let-7c, miR-199a-3p, and miR-99a as being downregulated in the tumor tissue. Real-time PCR analysis verified significant downregulation of let-7c and miR-99a in both HepG2X and Hep3BX cells, which stably overexpress HBx, relative to parental cells. HBX enhanced EZH2 expression and attenuated let-7c expression to induce HMGA2 expression in the HCC cells. Knockdown of HMGA2 significantly downregulated the metastatic potential of HCC cells induced by HBx. CONCLUSIONS The deregulation of let-7c expression by HBx may indicate a potential novel pathway through deregulating cell metastasis and imply that HMGA2 might be used as a new prognostic marker and/or as an effective therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Shiou Wu
- Institute of Translational Medicine and New Drug Development, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chung Chien
- Institute of Translational Medicine and New Drug Development, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jui Yen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70403, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Yan Wu
- Institute of Translational Medicine and New Drug Development, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
| | - Li-Yuan Bai
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
| | - Yung-Luen Yu
- Institute of Translational Medicine and New Drug Development, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, 41354, Taiwan.
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12
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Lanzi C, Arrighetti N, Pasquali S, Cassinelli G. Targeting EZH2 in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas: Advances and opportunities to potentiate the efficacy of EZH2 inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 215:115727. [PMID: 37541451 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare mesechymal malignancies characterized by distintive molecular, histological and clinical features. Many STSs are considered as predominatly epigenetic diseases due to underlying chromatin deregulation. Discovery of deregulated functional antagonism between the chromatin remodeling BRG1/BRM-associated (BAFs) and the histone modifying Polycomb repressor complexes (PRCs) has provided novel actionable targets. In epithelioid sarcoma (ES), extracranial, extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumors (eMRTs) and synovial sarcoma (SS), the total or partial loss of the BAF core subunit SMARCB1, driven by different alterations, is associated with PRC2 deregulation and dependency on its enzymatic subunit, EZH2. In these SMARCB1-deficient STSs, aberrant EZH2 expression and/or activity emerged as a druggable vulnerability. Although preclinical investigation supported EZH2 targeting as a promising therapeutic option, clinical studies demonstrated a variable response to EZH2 inhibitors. Actually, whereas the clinical benefit recorded in ES patients prompted the FDA approval of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat, the modest and sporadic responses observed in eMRT and SS patients highlighted the need to deepen mechanistic as well as pharmacological investigations to improve drug effectiveness. We summarize the current knowledge of different mechanisms driving SMARCB1 deficiency and EZH2 deregulation in ES, eMRT and SS along with preclinical and clinical studies of EZH2-targeting agents. Possible implication of the PRC2- and enzymatic-independent functions of EZH2 and of its homolog, EZH1, in the response to anti-EZH2 agents will be discussed together with combinatorial strategies under investigation to improve the efficacy of EZH2 targeting in these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Lanzi
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Noemi Arrighetti
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Pasquali
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliana Cassinelli
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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13
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Hong L, Williams NL, Jaffe M, Shields CE, Haynes KA. Synthetic Reader-Actuators Targeted to Polycomb-Silenced Genes Block Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Proliferation and Invasion. GEN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 2:301-316. [PMID: 37928406 PMCID: PMC10623628 DOI: 10.1089/genbio.2023.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Scientists have used pharmacological inhibitors of polycomb proteins to restore the expression of tumor suppressor genes and stop cancer proliferation and invasion. A major limitation of this approach is that key transcriptional activators, such as TP53 and BAF SWI/SNF, are often mutated in cancer. Poor clinical results for polycomb-targeting therapies in solid cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), could discourage the further development of epigenetic monotherapies. Here, we performed epigenome actuation with a synthetic reader-actuator (SRA) that binds trimethylated histone H3 lysine 27 in polycomb chromatin and modulates core transcriptional activators. In SRA-expressing TNBC BT-549 cells, 122 genes become upregulated ≥2-fold, including the genes involved in cell death, cell cycle arrest, and migration inhibition. The SRA-expressing spheroids showed reduced size in Matrigel and loss of invasion. Therefore, targeting Mediator-recruiting regulators to silenced chromatin can activate tumor suppressors and stimulate anti-cancer phenotypes, and further development of robust gene regulators might benefit TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Hong
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Natecia L. Williams
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maya Jaffe
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Cara E. Shields
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karmella A. Haynes
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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14
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Zhu S, Tao M, Li Y, Wang X, Zhao Z, Liu Y, Li Q, Li Q, Lu Y, Si Y, Cao S, Ye J. H3K27me3 of Rnf19a promotes neuroinflammatory response during Japanese encephalitis virus infection. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:168. [PMID: 37480121 PMCID: PMC10362728 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02852-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone methylation is an important epigenetic modification that affects various biological processes, including the inflammatory response. In this study, we found that infection with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) leads to an increase in H3K27me3 in BV2 microglial cell line, primary mouse microglia and mouse brain. Inhibition of H3K27me3 modification through EZH2 knockdown and treatment with EZH2 inhibitor significantly reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines during JEV infection, which suggests that H3K27me3 modification plays a crucial role in the neuroinflammatory response caused by JEV infection. The chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-sequencing) assay revealed an increase in H3K27me3 modification of E3 ubiquitin ligases Rnf19a following JEV infection, which leads to downregulation of Rnf19a expression. Furthermore, the results showed that Rnf19a negatively regulates the neuroinflammatory response induced by JEV. This is achieved through the degradation of RIG-I by mediating its ubiquitination. In conclusion, our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which JEV triggers extensive neuroinflammation from an epigenetic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mengying Tao
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yunchuan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xugang Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zikai Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yixin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qi Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qiuyan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yanbo Lu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Youhui Si
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shengbo Cao
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Ye
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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15
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Guo C, Zhao M, Sui X, Balsara Z, Zhai S, Ahdoot M, Zhang Y, Lam CM, Zhu P, Li X. Targeting the PRC2-dependent epigenetic program alleviates urinary tract infections. iScience 2023; 26:106925. [PMID: 37332606 PMCID: PMC10272480 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a pervasive health problem worldwide. Patients with a history of UTIs suffer increased risk of recurrent infections, a major risk of antibiotic resistance. Here, we show that bladder infections induce expression of Ezh2 in bladder urothelial cells. Ezh2 is the methyltransferase of polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2)-a potent epigenetic regulator. Urothelium-specific inactivation of PRC2 results in reduced urine bacterial burden, muted inflammatory response, and decreased activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway. PRC2 inactivation also facilitates proper regeneration after urothelial damage from UTIs, by attenuating basal cell hyperplasia and increasing urothelial differentiation. In addition, treatment with Ezh2-specific small-molecule inhibitors improves outcomes of the chronic and severe bladder infections in mice. These findings collectively suggest that the PRC2-dependent epigenetic reprograming controls the amplitude of inflammation and severity of UTIs and that Ezh2 inhibitors may be a viable non-antibiotic strategy to manage chronic and severe UTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunming Guo
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Davis 3089, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Departments of Urology and Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mingyi Zhao
- Departments of Urology and Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiac Pathogenesis and Prevention, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510100, China
| | - Xinbing Sui
- Departments of Urology and Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zarine Balsara
- Departments of Urology and Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Songhui Zhai
- Departments of Urology and Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michael Ahdoot
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Davis 3089, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Yingsheng Zhang
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Davis 3089, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Christa M. Lam
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Davis 3089, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Departments of Urology and Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ping Zhu
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiac Pathogenesis and Prevention, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510100, China
| | - Xue Li
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Davis 3089, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Departments of Urology and Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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16
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Liang J, Yu D, Luo C, Bennett C, Jedrychowski M, Gygi SP, Widlund HR, Puigserver P. Epigenetic suppression of PGC1α (PPARGC1A) causes collateral sensitivity to HMGCR-inhibitors within BRAF-treatment resistant melanomas. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3251. [PMID: 37277330 PMCID: PMC10241879 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38968-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
While targeted treatment against BRAF(V600E) improve survival for melanoma patients, many will see their cancer recur. Here we provide data indicating that epigenetic suppression of PGC1α defines an aggressive subset of chronic BRAF-inhibitor treated melanomas. A metabolism-centered pharmacological screen further identifies statins (HMGCR inhibitors) as a collateral vulnerability within PGC1α-suppressed BRAF-inhibitor resistant melanomas. Lower PGC1α levels mechanistically causes reduced RAB6B and RAB27A expression, whereby their combined re-expression reverses statin vulnerability. BRAF-inhibitor resistant cells with reduced PGC1α have increased integrin-FAK signaling and improved extracellular matrix detached survival cues that helps explain their increased metastatic ability. Statin treatment blocks cell growth by lowering RAB6B and RAB27A prenylation that reduces their membrane association and affects integrin localization and downstream signaling required for growth. These results suggest that chronic adaptation to BRAF-targeted treatments drive novel collateral metabolic vulnerabilities, and that HMGCR inhibitors may offer a strategy to treat melanomas recurring with suppressed PGC1α expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Liang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deyang Yu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chi Luo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Parthenon Therapeutics, Boston, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Christopher Bennett
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Atavistik Bio, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Mark Jedrychowski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steve P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hans R Widlund
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Pere Puigserver
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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17
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Chen J, Hong JH, Huang Y, Liu S, Yin J, Deng P, Sun Y, Yu Z, Zeng X, Xiao R, Chan JY, Guan P, Wang Y, Wang P, Liu L, Wen S, Yu Q, Ong CK, Teh BT, Xiong Y, Tan J. EZH2 mediated metabolic rewiring promotes tumor growth independently of histone methyltransferase activity in ovarian cancer. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:85. [PMID: 37210576 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01786-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), the key catalytic subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), is overexpressed and plays an oncogenic role in various cancers through catalysis-dependent or catalysis-independent pathways. However, the related mechanisms contributing to ovarian cancer (OC) are not well understood. METHODS The levels of EZH2 and H3K27me3 were evaluated in 105 OC patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, and these patients were stratified based on these levels. Canonical and noncanonical binding sites of EZH2 were defined by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq). The EZH2 solo targets were obtained by integrative analysis of ChIP-Seq and RNA sequencing data. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to determine the role of EZH2 in OC growth. RESULTS We showed that a subgroup of OC patients with high EZH2 expression but low H3K27me3 exhibited the worst prognosis, with limited therapeutic options. We demonstrated that induction of EZH2 degradation but not catalytic inhibition profoundly blocked OC cell proliferation and tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. Integrative analysis of genome-wide chromatin and transcriptome profiles revealed extensive EZH2 occupancy not only at genomic loci marked by H3K27me3 but also at promoters independent of PRC2, indicating a noncanonical role of EZH2 in OC. Mechanistically, EZH2 transcriptionally upregulated IDH2 to potentiate metabolic rewiring by enhancing tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) activity, which contributed to the growth of OC. CONCLUSIONS These data reveal a novel oncogenic role of EZH2 in OC and identify potential therapeutic strategies for OC by targeting the noncatalytic activity of EZH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 East Dongfeng Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
| | - Jing Han Hong
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yulin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Shini Liu
- Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Jiaxin Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Peng Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Yichen Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Zhaoliang Yu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, P. R. China
| | - Xian Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Rong Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Jason Yongsheng Chan
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Peiyong Guan
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yali Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Peili Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Lizhen Liu
- Center of Medical Research, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Shijun Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Choon Kiat Ong
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
- Lymphoma Genomic Translational Research Laboratory, Cellular and Molecular Research, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bin-Tean Teh
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ying Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Jing Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, P. R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 East Dongfeng Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
- Center of Medical Research, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
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18
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Qiang N, Ao J, Nakamura M, Chiba T, Kusakabe Y, Kaneko T, Kurosugi A, Kogure T, Ma Y, Zhang J, Ogawa K, Kan M, Iwanaga T, Sakuma T, Kanayama K, Kanzaki H, Kojima R, Nakagawa R, Kondo T, Nakamoto S, Muroyama R, Kato J, Mimura N, Ma A, Jin J, Kato N. Alteration of the tumor microenvironment by pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 118:110068. [PMID: 37001386 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a core component of polycomb repressive component 2 is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and recognized as a therapeutic target molecule. However, EZH2 possesses immunomodulatory functions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The impact of EZH2 on TME of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using immunocompetent mouse model was evaluated in the present study. UNC1999, an EZH2 inhibitor, impaired growth of the murine HCC cells (H22 cells) and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Although UNC1999 significantly inhibited the growth of H22 cells-derived and Hepa1-6 cells-derived tumors in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice, its antitumor effect was diminished in allogenic BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Flow cytometric analyses of TME cells in BALB/c mice demonstrated a significant decrease in the number of interferon‑γ+ CD8+ T cells and regulatory T cells and a significant increase in the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Administration of Gr-1 neutralizing antibody concomitant with UNC1999 restored antitumor effect accompanied by an increase in the number of CD8+ T cells followed by a decrease in the number of MDSCs. Chemokine antibody array demonstrated an enhanced expression of chemokines responsible for MDSCs recruitment such as C5a, CCL8, and CCL9. In conclusion, the study results demonstrated that EZH2 inhibitor contributed to attenuation of tumor immunity caused by TME arrangement. Combination therapy with EZH2 inhibitors and agents that reduce MDSCs might represent a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Qiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Junjie Ao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masato Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Tetsuhiro Chiba
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuko Kusakabe
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kaneko
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Akane Kurosugi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tadayoshi Kogure
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yaojia Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Keita Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Motoyasu Kan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Terunao Iwanaga
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takafumi Sakuma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kengo Kanayama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kanzaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kojima
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kondo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shingo Nakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Muroyama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jun Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Naoya Mimura
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Anqi Ma
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Naoya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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19
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Entezari M, Taheriazam A, Paskeh MDA, Sabouni E, Zandieh MA, Aboutalebi M, Kakavand A, Rezaei S, Hejazi ES, Saebfar H, Salimimoghadam S, Mirzaei S, Hashemi M, Samarghandian S. The pharmacological and biological importance of EZH2 signaling in lung cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 160:114313. [PMID: 36738498 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Up to 18% of cancer-related deaths worldwide are attributed to lung tumor and global burden of this type of cancer is ascending. Different factors are responsible for development of lung cancer such as smoking, environmental factors and genetic mutations. EZH2 is a vital protein with catalytic activity and belongs to PCR2 family. EZH2 has been implicated in regulating gene expression by binding to promoter of targets. The importance of EZH2 in lung cancer is discussed in current manuscript. Activation of EZH2 significantly elevates the proliferation rate of lung cancer. Furthermore, metastasis and associated molecular mechanisms including EMT undergo activation by EZH2 in enhancing the lung cancer progression. The response of lung cancer to therapy can be significantly diminished due to EZH2 upregulation. Since EZH2 increases tumor progression, anti-cancer agents suppressing its expression reduce malignancy. In spite of significant effort in understanding modulatory function of EZH2 on other pathways, it appears that EZH2 can be also regulated and controlled by other factors that are described in current review. Therefore, translating current findings to clinic can improve treatment and management of lung cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maliheh Entezari
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahshid Deldar Abad Paskeh
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Eisa Sabouni
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Arad Zandieh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Aboutalebi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirabbas Kakavand
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shamin Rezaei
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Sadat Hejazi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Saebfar
- European University Association, League of European Research Universities, university of milan, Italy
| | - Shokooh Salimimoghadam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Healthy Ageing Research Centre, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
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20
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Campbell WA, El‐Hodiri HM, Torres D, Hawthorn EC, Kelly LE, Volkov L, Akanonu D, Fischer AJ. Chromatin access regulates the formation of Müller glia‐derived progenitor cells in the retina. Glia 2023; 71:1729-1754. [PMID: 36971459 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin access and epigenetic control over gene expression play important roles in regulating developmental processes. However, little is known about how chromatin access and epigenetic gene silencing influence mature glial cells and retinal regeneration. Herein, we investigate the expression and functions of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH; AHCY) and histone methyltransferases (HMTs) during the formation of Müller glia (MG)-derived progenitor cells (MGPCs) in the chick and mouse retinas. In chick, AHCY, AHCYL1 and AHCYL2, and many different HMTs are dynamically expressed by MG and MGPCs in damaged retinas. Inhibition of SAHH reduced levels of H3K27me3 and potently blocks the formation of proliferating MGPCs. By using a combination of single cell RNA-seq and single cell ATAC-seq, we find significant changes in gene expression and chromatin access in MG with SAHH inhibition and NMDA-treatment; many of these genes are associated with glial and neuronal differentiation. A strong correlation across gene expression, chromatin access, and transcription factor motif access in MG was observed for transcription factors known to convey glial identity and promote retinal development. By comparison, in the mouse retina, inhibition of SAHH has no influence on the differentiation of neuron-like cells from Ascl1-overexpressing MG. We conclude that in the chick the activity of SAHH and HMTs are required for the reprogramming of MG into MGPCs by regulating chromatin access to transcription factors associated with glial differentiation and retinal development.
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21
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Epigenetic Abnormalities in Chondrosarcoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054539. [PMID: 36901967 PMCID: PMC10003547 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, our understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in tumor pathology has improved greatly. DNA and histone modifications, such as methylation, demethylation, acetylation, and deacetylation, can lead to the up-regulation of oncogenic genes, as well as the suppression of tumor suppressor genes. Gene expression can also be modified on a post-transcriptional level by microRNAs that contribute to carcinogenesis. The role of these modifications has been already described in many tumors, e.g., colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. These mechanisms have also begun to be investigated in less common tumors, such as sarcomas. Chondrosarcoma (CS) is a rare type of tumor that belongs to sarcomas and is the second most common malignant bone tumor after osteosarcoma. Due to unknown pathogenesis and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapies of these tumors, there is a need to develop new potential therapies against CS. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the influence of epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of CS by discussing potential candidates for future therapies. We also emphasize ongoing clinical trials that use drugs targeting epigenetic modifications in CS treatment.
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22
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Kumar A, Emdad L, Fisher PB, Das SK. Targeting epigenetic regulation for cancer therapy using small molecule inhibitors. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 158:73-161. [PMID: 36990539 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells display pervasive changes in DNA methylation, disrupted patterns of histone posttranslational modification, chromatin composition or organization and regulatory element activities that alter normal programs of gene expression. It is becoming increasingly clear that disturbances in the epigenome are hallmarks of cancer, which are targetable and represent attractive starting points for drug creation. Remarkable progress has been made in the past decades in discovering and developing epigenetic-based small molecule inhibitors. Recently, epigenetic-targeted agents in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors have been identified and these agents are either in current clinical trials or approved for treatment. However, epigenetic drug applications face many challenges, including low selectivity, poor bioavailability, instability and acquired drug resistance. New multidisciplinary approaches are being designed to overcome these limitations, e.g., applications of machine learning, drug repurposing, high throughput virtual screening technologies, to identify selective compounds with improved stability and better bioavailability. We provide an overview of the key proteins that mediate epigenetic regulation that encompass histone and DNA modifications and discuss effector proteins that affect the organization of chromatin structure and function as well as presently available inhibitors as potential drugs. Current anticancer small-molecule inhibitors targeting epigenetic modified enzymes that have been approved by therapeutic regulatory authorities across the world are highlighted. Many of these are in different stages of clinical evaluation. We also assess emerging strategies for combinatorial approaches of epigenetic drugs with immunotherapy, standard chemotherapy or other classes of agents and advances in the design of novel epigenetic therapies.
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23
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Skouras P, Markouli M, Strepkos D, Piperi C. Advances on Epigenetic Drugs for Pediatric Brain Tumors. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1519-1535. [PMID: 36154607 PMCID: PMC10472812 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220922150456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric malignant brain tumors represent the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths in childhood. The therapeutic scheme of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy has improved patient management, but with minimal progress in patients' prognosis. Emerging molecular targets and mechanisms have revealed novel approaches for pediatric brain tumor therapy, enabling personalized medical treatment. Advances in the field of epigenetic research and their interplay with genetic changes have enriched our knowledge of the molecular heterogeneity of these neoplasms and have revealed important genes that affect crucial signaling pathways involved in tumor progression. The great potential of epigenetic therapy lies mainly in the widespread location and the reversibility of epigenetic alterations, proposing a wide range of targeting options, including the possible combination of chemoand immunotherapy, significantly increasing their efficacy. Epigenetic drugs, including inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases, histone deacetylases and demethylases, are currently being tested in clinical trials on pediatric brain tumors. Additional novel epigenetic drugs include protein and enzyme inhibitors that modulate epigenetic modification pathways, such as Bromodomain and Extraterminal (BET) proteins, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9), AXL, Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT), BMI1, and CREB Binding Protein (CBP) inhibitors, which can be used either as standalone or in combination with current treatment approaches. In this review, we discuss recent progress on epigenetic drugs that could possibly be used against the most common malignant tumors of childhood, such as medulloblastomas, high-grade gliomas and ependymomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Skouras
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Mariam Markouli
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Strepkos
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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24
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Liu YT, Romero C, Xiao X, Guo L, Zhou X, Applebaum MA, Xu L, Skapek SX. Methyltransferase Inhibition Enables Tgf β Driven Induction of CDKN2A and B in Cancer Cells. Mol Cell Biol 2023; 43:115-129. [PMID: 36941772 PMCID: PMC10038032 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2023.2186074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
CDKN2A/B deletion or silencing is common across human cancer, reinforcing the general importance of bypassing its tumor suppression in cancer formation or progression. In rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and neuroblastoma, two common childhood cancers, the three CDKN2A/B transcripts are independently expressed to varying degrees, but one, ARF, is uniformly silenced. Although TGFβ induces certain CDKN2A/B transcripts in HeLa cells, it was unable to do so in five tested RMS lines unless the cells were pretreated with a broadly acting methyltransferase inhibitor, DZNep, or one targeting EZH2. CDKN2A/B induction by TGFβ correlated with de novo appearance of three H3K27Ac peaks within a 20 kb cis element ∼150 kb proximal to CDKN2A/B. Deleting that segment prevented their induction by TGFβ but not a basal increase driven by methyltransferase inhibition alone. Expression of two CDKN2A/B transcripts was enhanced by dCas9/CRISPR activation targeting either the relevant promoter or the 20 kb cis elements, and this "precise" manipulation diminished RMS cell propagation in vitro. Our findings show crosstalk between methyltransferase inhibition and TGFβ-dependent activation of a remote enhancer to reverse CDKN2A/B silencing. Though focused on CDKN2A/B here, such crosstalk may apply to other TGFβ-responsive genes and perhaps govern this signaling protein's complex effects promoting or blocking cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Ting Liu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Celeste Romero
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Xue Xiao
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lei Guo
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Zhou
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Mark A. Applebaum
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lin Xu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Stephen X. Skapek
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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25
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Epimutations and Their Effect on Chromatin Organization: Exciting Avenues for Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010215. [PMID: 36612210 PMCID: PMC9818548 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The three-dimensional architecture of genomes is complex. It is organized as fibers, loops, and domains that form high-order structures. By using different chromosome conformation techniques, the complex relationship between transcription and genome organization in the three-dimensional organization of genomes has been deciphered. Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, are the hallmark of cancers. Tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis are linked to these epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic inhibitors can reverse these altered modifications. A number of epigenetic inhibitors have been approved by FDA that target DNA methylation and histone modification. This review discusses the techniques involved in studying the three-dimensional organization of genomes, DNA methylation and histone modification, epigenetic deregulation in cancer, and epigenetic therapies targeting the tumor.
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26
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Zhang G, Wang Z, Song P, Zhan X. DNA and histone modifications as potent diagnostic and therapeutic targets to advance non-small cell lung cancer management from the perspective of 3P medicine. EPMA J 2022; 13:649-669. [PMID: 36505890 PMCID: PMC9727004 DOI: 10.1007/s13167-022-00300-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer has a very high mortality in females and males. Most (~ 85%) of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). When lung cancer is diagnosed, most of them have either local or distant metastasis, with a poor prognosis. In order to achieve better outcomes, it is imperative to identify the molecular signature based on genetic and epigenetic variations for different NSCLC subgroups. We hypothesize that DNA and histone modifications play significant roles in the framework of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM; 3P medicine). Epigenetics has a significant impact on tumorigenicity, tumor heterogeneity, and tumor resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. An increasing interest is that epigenomic regulation is recognized as a potential treatment option for NSCLC. Most attention has been paid to the epigenetic alteration patterns of DNA and histones. This article aims to review the roles DNA and histone modifications play in tumorigenesis, early detection and diagnosis, and advancements and therapies of NSCLC, and also explore the connection between DNA and histone modifications and PPPM, which may provide an important contribution to improve the prognosis of NSCLC. We found that the success of targeting DNA and histone modifications is limited in the clinic, and how to combine the therapies to improve patient outcomes is necessary in further studies, especially for predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention, and personalization of medical services in the 3P medicine approach. It is concluded that DNA and histone modifications are potent diagnostic and therapeutic targets to advance non-small cell lung cancer management from the perspective of 3P medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guodong Zhang
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 440 Jiyan Road, Shandong 250117 Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhengdan Wang
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 440 Jiyan Road, Shandong 250117 Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Pingping Song
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 440 Jiyan Road, Shandong 250117 Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianquan Zhan
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 440 Jiyan Road, Shandong 250117 Jinan, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
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27
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Targeting EZH2 Promotes Chemosensitivity of BCL-2 Inhibitor through Suppressing PI3K and c-KIT Signaling in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911393. [PMID: 36232694 PMCID: PMC9569949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common hematological malignancies with high heterogeneity, characterized by a differentiating block at the early progenitor stage. The selective BCL-2 inhibitor, Venetoclax (Ven), has shown exciting clinical results in a certain group of AML patients. However, Ven alone is insufficient to reach an enduringly complete response, which leads to the concern of Ven resistance. Alternative combined therapies with Ven are demanded in AML. Here, we reported the synergistic effect and molecular mechanism of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitor DZNeP with Ven in AML cells. Results showed that the combination of DZNeP with Ven significantly induces cell proliferation arrest compared to single-drug control in AML cells and primary samples, and CalcuSyn analysis showed their significant synergy. The combination also significantly promotes apoptosis and increases the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins. The whole transcriptome analysis showed that phosphoinositide-3-kinase-interacting protein1 (PIK3IP1), the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling suppressor, is upregulated upon DZNeP treatment. Moreover, EZH2 is upregulated but PIK3IP1 is downregulated in 88 newly diagnosed AML cohorts compared to 70 healthy controls, and a higher expression of EZH2 is associated with poor outcomes in AML patients. Particularly, the combination of DZNeP with Ven dramatically eliminated CD117 (c-KIT) (+) AML blasts, suggesting the effect of the combination on tumor stem cells. In summary, our data indicated that DZNeP increases the sensitivity of Ven in AML by affecting PI3K and c-KIT signaling in AML. Our results also suggested that the therapeutic targeting of both EZH2 and BCL-2 provides a novel potential combined strategy against AML.
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28
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Feng J, Meng X. Histone modification and histone modification-targeted anti-cancer drugs in breast cancer: Fundamentals and beyond. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:946811. [PMID: 36188615 PMCID: PMC9522521 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.946811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated epigenetic enzymes and resultant abnormal epigenetic modifications (EMs) have been suggested to be closely related to tumor occurrence and progression. Histone modifications (HMs) can assist in maintaining genome stability, DNA repair, transcription, and chromatin modulation within breast cancer (BC) cells. In addition, HMs are reversible, dynamic processes involving the associations of different enzymes with molecular compounds. Abnormal HMs (e.g. histone methylation and histone acetylation) have been identified to be tightly related to BC occurrence and development, even though their underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. EMs are reversible, and as a result, epigenetic enzymes have aroused wide attention as anti-tumor therapeutic targets. At present, treatments to restore aberrant EMs within BC cells have entered preclinical or clinical trials. In addition, no existing studies have comprehensively analyzed aberrant HMs within BC cells; in addition, HM-targeting BC treatments remain to be further investigated. Histone and non-histone protein methylation is becoming an attractive anti-tumor epigenetic therapeutic target; such methylation-related enzyme inhibitors are under development at present. Consequently, the present work focuses on summarizing relevant studies on HMs related to BC and the possible mechanisms associated with abnormal HMs. Additionally, we also aim to analyze existing therapeutic agents together with those drugs approved and tested through pre-clinical and clinical trials, to assess their roles in HMs. Moreover, epi-drugs that target HMT inhibitors and HDAC inhibitors should be tested in preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of BC. Epi-drugs that target histone methylation (HMT inhibitors) and histone acetylation (HDAC inhibitors) have now entered clinical trials or are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, the review covers the difficulties in applying HM-targeting treatments in clinics and proposes feasible approaches for overcoming such difficulties and promoting their use in treating BC cases.
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29
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Guerrero A, Innes AJ, Roux PF, Buisman SC, Jung J, Ortet L, Moiseeva V, Wagner V, Robinson L, Ausema A, Potapova A, Perdiguero E, Weersing E, Aarts M, Martin N, Wuestefeld T, Muñoz-Cánoves P, de Haan G, Bischof O, Gil J. 3-deazaadenosine (3DA) alleviates senescence to promote cellular fitness and cell therapy efficiency in mice. NATURE AGING 2022; 2:851-866. [PMID: 36438588 PMCID: PMC7613850 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00279-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a stable type of cell cycle arrest triggered by different stresses. As such, senescence drives age-related diseases and curbs cellular replicative potential. Here, we show that 3-deazaadenosine (3DA), an S-adenosyl homocysteinase (AHCY) inhibitor, alleviates replicative and oncogene-induced senescence. 3DA-treated senescent cells showed reduced global Histone H3 Lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3), an epigenetic modification that marks the bodies of actively transcribed genes. By integrating transcriptome and epigenome data, we demonstrate that 3DA treatment affects key factors of the senescence transcriptional program. Remarkably, 3DA treatment alleviated senescence and increased the proliferative and regenerative potential of muscle stem cells from very old mice in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, ex vivo 3DA treatment was sufficient to enhance the engraftment of human umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells in immunocompromised mice. Together, our results identify 3DA as a promising drug enhancing the efficiency of cellular therapies by restraining senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Guerrero
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Andrew J. Innes
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
- Centre for Haematology, Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Pierre-François Roux
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, 75015 Paris, France
- INSERM, U993, 75015 Paris, France
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, INSERM U1194, Université de Montpellier, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sonja C. Buisman
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Jung
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Ortet
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), CIBER on Neurodegenerative diseases (CIBERNED), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victoria Moiseeva
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), CIBER on Neurodegenerative diseases (CIBERNED), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Verena Wagner
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Lucas Robinson
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, 75015 Paris, France
- INSERM, U993, 75015 Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Albertina Ausema
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Potapova
- Laboratory of In Vivo Genetics & Gene Therapy, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eusebio Perdiguero
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), CIBER on Neurodegenerative diseases (CIBERNED), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ellen Weersing
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Aarts
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Nadine Martin
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Torsten Wuestefeld
- Laboratory of In Vivo Genetics & Gene Therapy, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Pura Muñoz-Cánoves
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), CIBER on Neurodegenerative diseases (CIBERNED), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, E-08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish National Center on Cardiovascular Research (CNIC), E-28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gerald de Haan
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 Groningen, The Netherlands
- Sanquin Research, and Landsteiner Laboratory,Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Oliver Bischof
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, 75015 Paris, France
- INSERM, U993, 75015 Paris, France
- INSERM U955, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), FHU SENEC, 51 Av de Lattre de Tassigny, 94100 Créteil, France
| | - Jesús Gil
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
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30
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Critical Roles of Polycomb Repressive Complexes in Transcription and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179574. [PMID: 36076977 PMCID: PMC9455514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycomp group (PcG) proteins are members of highly conserved multiprotein complexes, recognized as gene transcriptional repressors during development and shown to play a role in various physiological and pathological processes. PcG proteins consist of two Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) with different enzymatic activities: Polycomb repressive complexes 1 (PRC1), a ubiquitin ligase, and Polycomb repressive complexes 2 (PRC2), a histone methyltransferase. Traditionally, PRCs have been described to be associated with transcriptional repression of homeotic genes, as well as gene transcription activating effects. Particularly in cancer, PRCs have been found to misregulate gene expression, not only depending on the function of the whole PRCs, but also through their separate subunits. In this review, we focused especially on the recent findings in the transcriptional regulation of PRCs, the oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles of PcG proteins, and the research progress of inhibitors targeting PRCs.
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31
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Kaundal B, Karmakar S, Roy Choudhury S. Mitochondria-targeting nano therapy altering IDH2-mediated EZH2/EZH1 interaction as precise epigenetic regulation in glioblastoma. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:5301-5317. [PMID: 35917200 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm02006d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a complex brain cancer with frequent relapses and high mortality and still awaits effective treatment. Mitochondria dysfunction is a pathogenic condition in GBM and could be a prime therapeutic target for ceasing GBM progression. Strategies to overcome brain solid tumor barriers and selectively target mitochondria within specific cell types may improve GBM treatment. Here, we present hypericin-conjugated gold nanoparticles (PEG-AuNPs@Hyp) where hypericin is a mitochondrion-targeting agent exhibiting multimodal therapy by critically impacting the IDH2 gene (Isocitrate dehydrogenase) and its interaction with polycomb methyltransferase EZH1/2 for GBM therapy. It significantly localizes in mitochondria by enhanced cellular uptake in the human GBM cell lines/three-dimensional (3D) culture model under red-light exposure. It triggers oxidative stress and changes the mitochondrial potential, with increased Bax/Bcl2 ratio enhancing GBM cell death. The suppressed expression of mutated IDH2 and polycomb group of proteins upon PEG-AuNPs@Hyp/light exposure regulates mitochondria-targeting-mediated GBM metabolism with epigenetic repression of complex machinery function. Polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of EZH1 indicate the implication of these polycomb proteins in GBM progression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation reveals the IDH2 and EZH1/EZH2 direct interaction, confirming the role played by IDH2 in modulating the expression of EZH1 and EZH2. In vivo studies further displayed better tumor ablation in a GBM tumor-bearing nude mouse model. The present multimodal nanoformulation compromised the functional dependency of polycomb on mitochondrial IDH2 and established the mechanism of GBM inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babita Kaundal
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab-140306, India.
| | - Surajit Karmakar
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab-140306, India.
| | - Subhasree Roy Choudhury
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab-140306, India.
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32
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IFI16-dependent STING signaling is a crucial regulator of anti-HER2 immune response in HER2+ breast cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201376119. [PMID: 35878022 PMCID: PMC9351446 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201376119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Relapse to anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies, such as trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer (BC), is associated with residual disease progression due to resistance to therapy. Here, we identify interferon-γ inducible protein 16 (IFI16)-dependent STING signaling as a significant determinant of trastuzumab responses in HER2+ BC. We show that down-regulation of immune-regulated genes (IRG) is specifically associated with poor survival of HER2+, but not other BC subtypes. Among IRG, IFI16 is identified as a direct target of EZH2, the underexpression of which leads to deficient STING activation and downstream CXCL10/11 expression in response to trastuzumab treatment. Dual inhibition of EZH2 and histone deacetylase (HDAC) significantly activates IFI16-dependent immune responses to trastuzumab. Notably, a combination of a novel histone methylation inhibitor with an HDAC inhibitor induces complete tumor eradication and long-term T cell memory in a HER2+ BC mouse model. Our findings demonstrate an epigenetic regulatory mechanism suppressing the expression of the IFI16-CXCL10/11 signaling pathway that provides a survival advantage to HER2+ BC to confer resistance to trastuzumab treatment.
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33
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Chemical biology and pharmacology of histone lysine methylation inhibitors. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2022; 1865:194840. [PMID: 35753676 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2022.194840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Histone lysine methylation is a post-translational modification that plays a key role in the epigenetic regulation of a broad spectrum of biological processes. Moreover, the dysregulation of histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases particularly cancer. Due to their pathobiological importance, KMTs have garnered immense attention over the last decade as attractive therapeutic targets. These endeavors have culminated in tens of chemical probes that have been used to interrogate many aspects of histone lysine methylation. Besides, over a dozen inhibitors have been advanced to clinical trials, including the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat approved for the treatment of follicular lymphoma and advanced epithelioid sarcoma. In this Review, we highlight the chemical biology and pharmacology of KMT inhibitors and targeted protein degraders focusing on the clinical development of EZH1/2, DOT1L, Menin-MLL, and WDR5-MLL inhibitors. We also briefly discuss the pharmacologic targeting of other KMTs.
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34
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Bergant V, Yamada S, Grass V, Tsukamoto Y, Lavacca T, Krey K, Mühlhofer MT, Wittmann S, Ensser A, Herrmann A, Vom Hemdt A, Tomita Y, Matsuyama S, Hirokawa T, Huang Y, Piras A, Jakwerth CA, Oelsner M, Thieme S, Graf A, Krebs S, Blum H, Kümmerer BM, Stukalov A, Schmidt-Weber CB, Igarashi M, Gramberg T, Pichlmair A, Kato H. Attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 replication and associated inflammation by concomitant targeting of viral and host cap 2'-O-ribose methyltransferases. EMBO J 2022; 41:e111608. [PMID: 35833542 PMCID: PMC9350232 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS‐CoV‐2 infection cycle is a multistage process that relies on functional interactions between the host and the pathogen. Here, we repurposed antiviral drugs against both viral and host enzymes to pharmaceutically block methylation of the viral RNA 2'‐O‐ribose cap needed for viral immune escape. We find that the host cap 2'‐O‐ribose methyltransferase MTr1 can compensate for loss of viral NSP16 methyltransferase in facilitating virus replication. Concomitant inhibition of MTr1 and NSP16 efficiently suppresses SARS‐CoV‐2 replication. Using in silico target‐based drug screening, we identify a bispecific MTr1/NSP16 inhibitor with anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 activity in vitro and in vivo but with unfavorable side effects. We further show antiviral activity of inhibitors that target independent stages of the host SAM cycle providing the methyltransferase co‐substrate. In particular, the adenosylhomocysteinase (AHCY) inhibitor DZNep is antiviral in in vitro, in ex vivo, and in a mouse infection model and synergizes with existing COVID‐19 treatments. Moreover, DZNep exhibits a strong immunomodulatory effect curbing infection‐induced hyperinflammation and reduces lung fibrosis markers ex vivo. Thus, multispecific and metabolic MTase inhibitors constitute yet unexplored treatment options against COVID‐19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valter Bergant
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Shintaro Yamada
- Institute of Cardiovascular Immunology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Vincent Grass
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Yuta Tsukamoto
- Institute of Cardiovascular Immunology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Teresa Lavacca
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Karsten Krey
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Maria-Teresa Mühlhofer
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Wittmann
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Armin Ensser
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Herrmann
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anja Vom Hemdt
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Yuriko Tomita
- Department of Virology III, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shutoku Matsuyama
- Department of Virology III, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takatsugu Hirokawa
- Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Division of Biomedical Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yiqi Huang
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Antonio Piras
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Constanze A Jakwerth
- Center for Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), CPC-M, Munich, Germany
| | - Madlen Oelsner
- Center for Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), CPC-M, Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Thieme
- Laboratory for functional genome analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Centre, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Graf
- Laboratory for functional genome analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Centre, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Krebs
- Laboratory for functional genome analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Centre, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Helmut Blum
- Laboratory for functional genome analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Centre, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Beate M Kümmerer
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexey Stukalov
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Carsten B Schmidt-Weber
- Center for Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), CPC-M, Munich, Germany
| | - Manabu Igarashi
- International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.,Division of Global Epidemiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Thomas Gramberg
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Pichlmair
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich partner site, Germany
| | - Hiroki Kato
- Institute of Cardiovascular Immunology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
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35
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Sukocheva OA, Lukina E, Friedemann M, Menschikowski M, Hagelgans A, Aliev G. The crucial role of epigenetic regulation in breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance: Current findings and future perspectives. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 82:35-59. [PMID: 33301860 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) cell de-sensitization to Tamoxifen (TAM) or other selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators (SERM) is a complex process associated with BC heterogeneity and the transformation of ER signalling. The most influential resistance-related mechanisms include modifications in ER expression and gene regulation patterns. During TAM/SERM treatment, epigenetic mechanisms can effectively silence ER expression and facilitate the development of endocrine resistance. ER status is efficiently regulated by specific epigenetic tools including hypermethylation of CpG islands within ER promoters, increased histone deacetylase activity in the ER promoter, and/or translational repression by miRNAs. Over-methylation of the ER α gene (ESR1) promoter by DNA methyltransferases was associated with poor prognosis and indicated the development of resistance. Moreover, BC progression and spreading were marked by transformed chromatin remodelling, post-translational histone modifications, and expression of specific miRNAs and/or long non-coding RNAs. Therefore, targeted inhibition of histone acetyltransferases (e.g. MYST3), deacetylases (e.g. HDAC1), and/or demethylases (e.g. lysine-specific demethylase LSD1) was shown to recover and increase BC sensitivity to anti-estrogens. Indicated as a powerful molecular instrument, the administration of epigenetic drugs can regain ER expression along with the activation of tumour suppressor genes, which can in turn prevent selection of resistant cells and cancer stem cell survival. This review examines recent advances in the epigenetic regulation of endocrine drug resistance and evaluates novel anti-resistance strategies. Underlying molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulation will be discussed, emphasising the utilization of epigenetic enzymes and their inhibitors to re-program irresponsive BCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Sukocheva
- Discipline of Health Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia.
| | - Elena Lukina
- Discipline of Biology, College of Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
| | - Markus Friedemann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital `Carl Gustav Carus`, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Mario Menschikowski
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital `Carl Gustav Carus`, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Albert Hagelgans
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital `Carl Gustav Carus`, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Gjumrakch Aliev
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, 119991, Russia; Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, 142432, Russia; Federal State Budgetary Institution «Research Institute of Human Morphology», 3, Tsyurupy Str., Moscow, 117418, Russian Federation; GALLY International Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
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36
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Liu X, Liu X. PRC2, Chromatin Regulation, and Human Disease: Insights From Molecular Structure and Function. Front Oncol 2022; 12:894585. [PMID: 35800061 PMCID: PMC9255955 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.894585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is a multisubunit histone-modifying enzyme complex that mediates methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27). Trimethylated H3K27 (H3K27me3) is an epigenetic hallmark of gene silencing. PRC2 plays a crucial role in a plethora of fundamental biological processes, and PRC2 dysregulation has been repeatedly implicated in cancers and developmental disorders. Here, we review the current knowledge on mechanisms of cellular regulation of PRC2 function, particularly regarding H3K27 methylation and chromatin targeting. PRC2-related disease mechanisms are also discussed. The mode of action of PRC2 in gene regulation is summarized, which includes competition between H3K27 methylation and acetylation, crosstalk with transcription machinery, and formation of high-order chromatin structure. Recent progress in the structural biology of PRC2 is highlighted from the aspects of complex assembly, enzyme catalysis, and chromatin recruitment, which together provide valuable insights into PRC2 function in close-to-atomic detail. Future studies on the molecular function and structure of PRC2 in the context of native chromatin and in the presence of other regulators like RNAs will continue to deepen our understanding of the stability and plasticity of developmental transcriptional programs broadly impacted by PRC2.
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37
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Zaiken MC, Flynn R, Paz KG, Rhee SY, Jin S, Mohamed FA, Saha A, Thangavelu G, Park PMC, Hemming ML, Sage PT, Sharpe AH, DuPage M, Bluestone JA, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Cutler CS, Koreth J, Antin JH, Soiffer RJ, Ritz J, Luznik L, Maillard I, Hill GR, MacDonald KPA, Munn DH, Serody JS, Murphy WJ, Kean LS, Zhang Y, Bradner JE, Qi J, Blazar BR. BET-bromodomain and EZH2 inhibitor-treated chronic GVHD mice have blunted germinal centers with distinct transcriptomes. Blood 2022; 139:2983-2997. [PMID: 35226736 PMCID: PMC9101246 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021014557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in the field, chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality following allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Because treatment options remain limited, we tested efficacy of anticancer, chromatin-modifying enzyme inhibitors in a clinically relevant murine model of cGVHD with bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). We observed that the novel enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitor JQ5 and the BET-bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 each improved pulmonary function; impaired the germinal center (GC) reaction, a prerequisite in cGVHD/BO pathogenesis; and JQ5 reduced EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 in donor T cells. Using conditional EZH2 knockout donor cells, we demonstrated that EZH2 is obligatory for the initiation of cGVHD/BO. In a sclerodermatous cGVHD model, JQ5 reduced the severity of cutaneous lesions. To determine how the 2 drugs could lead to the same physiological improvements while targeting unique epigenetic processes, we analyzed the transcriptomes of splenic GCB cells (GCBs) from transplanted mice treated with either drug. Multiple inflammatory and signaling pathways enriched in cGVHD/BO GCBs were reduced by each drug. GCBs from JQ5- but not JQ1-treated mice were enriched for proproliferative pathways also seen in GCBs from bone marrow-only transplanted mice, likely reflecting their underlying biology in the unperturbed state. In conjunction with in vivo data, these insights led us to conclude that epigenetic targeting of the GC is a viable clinical approach for the treatment of cGVHD, and that the EZH2 inhibitor JQ5 and the BET-bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 demonstrated clinical potential for EZH2i and BETi in patients with cGVHD/BO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Zaiken
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Ryan Flynn
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Katelyn G Paz
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Stephanie Y Rhee
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Sujeong Jin
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Fathima A Mohamed
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Asim Saha
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Govindarajan Thangavelu
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Paul M C Park
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Matthew L Hemming
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Peter T Sage
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School-Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School-Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Michel DuPage
- Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | | | - Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | | | | | - Robert J Soiffer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Leo Luznik
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ivan Maillard
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Geoffrey R Hill
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Kelli P A MacDonald
- Department of Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David H Munn
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
| | - Jonathan S Serody
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - William J Murphy
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA
| | - Leslie S Kean
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - James E Bradner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; and
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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38
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IGF2BP1 Promotes Proliferation of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms by Post-Transcriptional Enhancement of EZH2. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092121. [PMID: 35565249 PMCID: PMC9131133 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are very heterogeneous malignancies arising at different sites of the body that show an increasing incidence in recent decades. Here, we show that IGF2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is highly expressed in NEN cell lines, leading to enhanced cell proliferation. This oncogenic function relies on post-transcriptional stimulation of EZH2 expression by IGF2BP1, resulting in epigenetic silencing of cell cycle inhibitors via tri-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3). Combinatorial pharmacological targeting of IGF2BP1, EZH2, and the EZH2-activator Myc leads to synergistic antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in NEN cells, representing a novel therapeutic strategy in neuroendocrine malignancies. Abstract Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) represent a heterogenous class of highly vascularized neoplasms that are increasing in prevalence and are predominantly diagnosed at a metastatic state. The molecular mechanisms leading to tumor initiation, metastasis, and chemoresistance are still under investigation. Hence, identification of novel therapeutic targets is of great interest. Here, we demonstrate that the RNA-binding Protein IGF2BP1 is a post-transcriptional regulator of components of the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), an epigenic modifier affecting transcriptional regulation and proliferation: Comprehensive in silico analyses along with in vitro experiments showed that IGF2BP1 promotes neuroendocrine tumor cell proliferation by stabilizing the mRNA of Enhancer of Zeste 2 (EZH2), the catalytic subunit of PRC2, which represses gene expression by tri-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3). The IGF2BP1-driven stabilization and protection of EZH2 mRNA is m6A-dependent and enhances EZH2 protein levels which stimulates cell cycle progression by silencing cell cycle arrest genes through enhanced H3K27 tri-methylation. Therapeutic inhibition of IGF2BP1 destabilizes EZH2 mRNA and results in a reduced cell proliferation, paralleled by an increase in G1 and sub-G1 phases. Combined targeting of IGF2BP1, EZH2, and Myc, a transcriptional activator of EZH2 and well-known target of IGF2BP1 cooperatively induces tumor cell apoptosis. Our data identify IGF2BP1 as an important driver of tumor progression in NEN, and indicate that disruption of the IGF2BP1-Myc-EZH2 axis represents a promising approach for targeted therapy of neuroendocrine neoplasms.
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Tseng CF, Chen LT, Wang HD, Liu YH, Shiah SG. Transcriptional suppression of Dicer by HOXB-AS3/EZH2 complex dictates Sorafenib resistance and cancer stemness. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:1601-1612. [PMID: 35253323 PMCID: PMC9128169 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib is multi-kinase inhibitor for the standard treatment of advanced liver cancer patients. However, acquired resistance to sorafenib is responsible for a poor prognosis. Therefore, uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying sorafenib sensitization can provide biomarkers for sorafenib treatment and improve sorafenib activity in a precise medication. Here, we report that epigenetic suppression of Dicer by HOXB-AS3/EZH2 complex is responsible for sorafenib resistance. We observed that Dicer expression is inversely correlated with EZH2 levels, HOXB-AS3 expression, sorafenib resistance and cancer stem cell properties in liver cancer patients. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Dicer induced liver cancer cells re-sensitization to sorafenib. Mechanistically, we found HOXB-AS3 physically interacts with EZH2 and recruits EZH2 to the Dicer promoter, resulting in epigenetic suppression of Dicer expression. These findings reveal that HOXB-AS3/EZH2 complex-mediated Dicer suppression plays an important role in sorafenib resistance and cancer stemness and provide potential therapeutic strategies for diagnosing and treating liver cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Feng Tseng
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology in Medicine, NTHU & NHRI.,Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli Country, Taiwan
| | - Li-Tzong Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli Country, Taiwan.,Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Dar Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hong Liu
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli Country, Taiwan
| | - Shine-Gwo Shiah
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli Country, Taiwan.,Program in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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40
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Zhang Q, Yang H, Feng Q, Cao J, Zhang Y, Li L, Yu L. Focus on the classical and non-classical functions of EZH2: Guide the development of inhibitors and degraders. Pharmacol Res 2022; 178:106159. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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41
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Heydarnezhad Asl M, Pasban Khelejani F, Bahojb Mahdavi SZ, Emrahi L, Jebelli A, Mokhtarzadeh A. The various regulatory functions of long noncoding RNAs in apoptosis, cell cycle, and cellular senescence. J Cell Biochem 2022; 123:995-1024. [PMID: 35106829 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of noncoding cellular RNAs involved in significant biological phenomena such as differentiation, cell development, genomic imprinting, adjusting the enzymatic activity, regulating chromosome conformation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and cellular senescence. The misregulation of lncRNAs interrupting normal biological processes has been implicated in tumor formation and metastasis, resulting in cancer. Apoptosis and cell cycle, two main biological phenomena, are highly conserved and intimately coupled mechanisms. Hence, some cell cycle regulators can influence both programmed cell death and cell division. Apoptosis eliminates defective and unwanted cells, and the cell cycle enables cells to replicate themselves. The improper regulation of apoptosis and cell cycle contributes to numerous disorders such as neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, viral infection, anemia, and mainly cancer. Cellular senescence is a tumor-suppressing response initiated by environmental and internal stress factors. This phenomenon has recently attained more attention due to its therapeutic implications in the field of senotherapy. In this review, the regulatory roles of lncRNAs on apoptosis, cell cycle, and senescence will be discussed. First, the role of lncRNAs in mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis is addressed. Next, the interaction between lncRNAs and caspases, pro/antiapoptotic proteins, and also EGFR/PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway will be investigated. Furthermore, the effect of lncRNAs in the cell cycle is surveyed through interaction with cyclins, cdks, p21, and wnt/β-catenin/c-myc pathway. Finally, the function of essential lncRNAs in cellular senescence is mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Faezeh Pasban Khelejani
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran
| | | | - Leila Emrahi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asiyeh Jebelli
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Basic Science, Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid, Tabriz, Iran.,Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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42
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Wang L, Chen C, Song Z, Wang H, Ye M, Wang D, Kang W, Liu H, Qing G. EZH2 depletion potentiates MYC degradation inhibiting neuroblastoma and small cell carcinoma tumor formation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:12. [PMID: 35013218 PMCID: PMC8748958 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27609-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts to therapeutically target EZH2 have generally focused on inhibition of its methyltransferase activity, although it remains less clear whether this is the central mechanism whereby EZH2 promotes cancer. In the current study, we show that EZH2 directly interacts with both MYC family oncoproteins, MYC and MYCN, and promotes their stabilization in a methyltransferase-independent manner. By competing against the SCFFBW7 ubiquitin ligase to bind MYC and MYCN, EZH2 counteracts FBW7-mediated MYC(N) polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Depletion, but not enzymatic inhibition, of EZH2 induces robust MYC(N) degradation and inhibits tumor cell growth in MYC(N) driven neuroblastoma and small cell lung carcinoma. Here, we demonstrate the MYC family proteins as global EZH2 oncogenic effectors and EZH2 pharmacologic degraders as potential MYC(N) targeted cancer therapeutics, pointing out that MYC(N) driven cancers may develop inherent resistance to the canonical EZH2 enzymatic inhibitors currently in clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Chan Chen
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zemin Song
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Honghong Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Minghui Ye
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Donghai Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wenqian Kang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hudan Liu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Guoliang Qing
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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The Effect of Direct and Indirect EZH2 Inhibition in Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell Lines. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010041. [PMID: 35008205 PMCID: PMC8750739 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumor in children. Its two major subtypes show epigenetic alterations that are associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, targeting these epigenetic alterations by pharmacological intervention could be a therapeutic approach. We investigated two different types of substances that interfere with the epigenetic process of histone methylation. We performed studies in two cell lines that carry characteristics of the major rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes. The aim of this study was to find out if the substances differ in their effect on tumor-related cellular functions and to find out if the tumor subtypes differ in their response to the substances. These findings may contribute to a better assessment of the feasibility of pharmacological intervention directed against histone methylation in subtypes of rhabdomyosarcoma. Abstract Enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is involved in epigenetic regulation of gene transcription by catalyzing trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 27. In rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), increased EZH2 protein levels are associated with poor prognosis and increased metastatic potential, suggesting EZH2 as a therapeutic target. The inhibition of EZH2 can be achieved by direct inhibition which targets only the enzyme activity or by indirect inhibition which also affects activities of other methyltransferases and reduces EZH2 protein abundance. We assessed the direct inhibition of EZH2 by EPZ005687 and the indirect inhibition by 3-deazaneplanocin (DZNep) and adenosine dialdehyde (AdOx) in the embryonal RD and the alveolar RH30 RMS cell line. EPZ005687 was more effective in reducing the cell viability and colony formation, in promoting apoptosis induction, and in arresting cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle than the indirect inhibitors. DZNep was more effective in decreasing spheroid viability and size in both cell lines than EPZ005687 and AdOx. Both types of inhibitors reduced cell migration of RH30 cells but not of RD cells. The results show that direct and indirect inhibition of EZH2 affect cellular functions differently. The alveolar cell line RH30 is more sensitive to epigenetic intervention than the embryonal cell line RD.
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EZH2 as a new therapeutic target in brain tumors: Molecular landscape, therapeutic targeting and future prospects. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 146:112532. [PMID: 34906772 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors are responsible for high mortality and morbidity worldwide. The brain tumor treatment depends on identification of molecular pathways involved in progression and malignancy. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has obtained much attention in recent years in field of cancer therapy due to its aberrant expression and capacity in modulating expression of genes by binding to their promoter and affecting methylation status. The present review focuses on EZH2 signaling in brain tumors including glioma, glioblastoma, astrocytoma, ependymomas, medulloblastoma and brain rhabdoid tumors. EZH2 signaling mainly participates in increasing proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. However, in medulloblastoma, EZH2 demonstrates tumor-suppressor activity. Furthermore, EZH2 can regulate response of brain tumors to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Various molecular pathways can function as upstream mediators of EZH2 in brain tumors including lncRNAs and miRNAs. Owing to its enzymatic activity, EZH2 can bind to promoter of target genes to induce methylation and affects their expression. EZH2 can be considered as an independent prognostic factor in brain tumors that its upregulation provides undesirable prognosis. Both anti-tumor agents and gene therapies such as siRNA have been developed for targeting EZH2 in cancer therapy.
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45
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Borkiewicz L. Histone 3 Lysine 27 Trimethylation Signature in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12853. [PMID: 34884658 PMCID: PMC8657745 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer development and progression rely on complicated genetic and also epigenetic changes which regulate gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and regulation by lncRNAs alter protein expression by either promoting gene transcription or repressing it. The presence of so-called chromatin modification marks at various gene promoters and gene bodies is associated with normal cell development but also with tumorigenesis and progression of different types of cancer, including the most frequently diagnosed breast cancer. This review is focused on the significance of one of the abundant post-translational modifications of histone 3- trimethylation of lysine 27 (H3K27me3), which was shown to participate in tumour suppressor genes' silencing. Unlike other reviews in the field, here the overview of existing evidence linking H3K27me3 status with breast cancer biology and the tumour outcome is presented especially in the context of diverse breast cancer subtypes. Moreover, the potential of agents that target H3K27me3 for the treatment of this complex disease as well as H3K27 methylation in cross-talk with other chromatin modifications and lncRNAs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Borkiewicz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
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46
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The Pivotal Immunomodulatory and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase in the Glioma Microenvironment: Its Biomarker and Therapy Potentials. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2021; 2021:4907167. [PMID: 34745848 PMCID: PMC8566080 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4907167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase that encrypts a member of the Polycomb group (PcG) family. EZH2 forms a repressive chromatin structure which eventually participates in regulating the development as well as lineage propagation of stem cells and glioma progression. Posttranslational modifications are distinct approaches for the adjusted modification of EZH2 in the development of cancer. The amino acid succession of EZH2 protein makes it appropriate for covalent modifications, like phosphorylation, acetylation, O-GlcNAcylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation. The glioma microenvironment is a dynamic component that comprises, besides glioma cells and glioma stem cells, a complex network that comprises diverse cell types like endothelial cells, astrocytes, and microglia as well as stromal components, soluble factors, and the extracellular membrane. EZH2 is well recognized as an essential modulator of cell invasion as well as metastasis in glioma. EZH2 oversecretion was implicated in the malfunction of several fundamental signaling pathways like Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Ras and NF-κB signaling, PI3K/AKT signaling, β-adrenergic receptor signaling, and bone morphogenetic protein as well as NOTCH signaling pathways. EZH2 was more secreted in glioblastoma multiforme than in low-grade gliomas as well as extremely secreted in U251 and U87 human glioma cells. Thus, the blockade of EZH2 expression in glioma could be of therapeutic value for patients with glioma. The suppression of EZH2 gene secretion was capable of reversing temozolomide resistance in patients with glioma. EZH2 is a promising therapeutic as well as prognostic biomarker for the treatment of glioma.
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47
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Wang S, C Ordonez-Rubiano S, Dhiman A, Jiao G, Strohmier BP, Krusemark CJ, Dykhuizen EC. Polycomb group proteins in cancer: multifaceted functions and strategies for modulation. NAR Cancer 2021; 3:zcab039. [PMID: 34617019 PMCID: PMC8489530 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcab039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) are a heterogenous collection of dozens, if not hundreds, of protein complexes composed of various combinations of subunits. PRCs are transcriptional repressors important for cell-type specificity during development, and as such, are commonly mis-regulated in cancer. PRCs are broadly characterized as PRC1 with histone ubiquitin ligase activity, or PRC2 with histone methyltransferase activity; however, the mechanism by which individual PRCs, particularly the highly diverse set of PRC1s, alter gene expression has not always been clear. Here we review the current understanding of how PRCs act, both individually and together, to establish and maintain gene repression, the biochemical contribution of individual PRC subunits, the mis-regulation of PRC function in different cancers, and the current strategies for modulating PRC activity. Increased mechanistic understanding of PRC function, as well as cancer-specific roles for individual PRC subunits, will uncover better targets and strategies for cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijie Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 201 S. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Sandra C Ordonez-Rubiano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 201 S. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Alisha Dhiman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 201 S. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Guanming Jiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 201 S. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Brayden P Strohmier
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 201 S. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Casey J Krusemark
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 201 S. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Emily C Dykhuizen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 201 S. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
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Li W, Wu H, Sui S, Wang Q, Xu S, Pang D. Targeting Histone Modifications in Breast Cancer: A Precise Weapon on the Way. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:736935. [PMID: 34595180 PMCID: PMC8476812 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.736935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone modifications (HMs) contribute to maintaining genomic stability, transcription, DNA repair, and modulating chromatin in cancer cells. Furthermore, HMs are dynamic and reversible processes that involve interactions between numerous enzymes and molecular components. Aberrant HMs are strongly associated with tumorigenesis and progression of breast cancer (BC), although the specific mechanisms are not completely understood. Moreover, there is no comprehensive overview of abnormal HMs in BC, and BC therapies that target HMs are still in their infancy. Therefore, this review summarizes the existing evidence regarding HMs that are involved in BC and the potential mechanisms that are related to aberrant HMs. Moreover, this review examines the currently available agents and approved drugs that have been tested in pre-clinical and clinical studies to evaluate their effects on HMs. Finally, this review covers the barriers to the clinical application of therapies that target HMs, and possible strategies that could help overcome these barriers and accelerate the use of these therapies to cure patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Harbin Medical University Third Hospital: Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Harbin Medical University Third Hospital: Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shiyao Sui
- Harbin Medical University Third Hospital: Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Harbin Medical University Third Hospital: Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shouping Xu
- Harbin Medical University Third Hospital: Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Da Pang
- Harbin Medical University Third Hospital: Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, China
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Lhuissier E, Aury-Landas J, Lenté M, Boumediene K, Baugé C. Co-Treatment with the Epigenetic Drug, 3-Deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) and Cisplatin after DZNep Priming Enhances the Response to Platinum-Based Therapy in Chondrosarcomas. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13184648. [PMID: 34572877 PMCID: PMC8472299 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Chondrosarcoma is a rare bone tumor characterized by the secretion of a cartilage-like extracellular matrix. Its treatment poses major challenges, since chondrosarcoma is resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Consequently, chondrosarcoma treatment has been limited over the past 30 years, and consists in the surgical resection of the tumor. Increasing evidence suggests that future cancer therapies will be enhanced by the combination of epigenetic and conventional antitumor agents, leading to further investigations to combine 3-Deazaneplanocin A (DZNep), an epigenetic drug, with existing antitumoral agents. We show by in vitro and in vivo experiments that an optimised DZNep/cisplatin combination reduces chondrosarcoma viability and induces apoptosis more effectively than each of the drugs alone. These results demonstrate the potential use of this epigenetic-chemotherapeutic combination approach for further studies and management of chondrosarcoma treatment. Abstract Background: We have previously shown that 3-Deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) induces apoptosis in chondrosarcomas. Herein, we tested whether the combination of this epigenetic drug to a standard anticancer therapy may enhance the response to each drug in these bone tumors. Methods: Two chondrosarcoma cell lines (SW1353 and JJ012) were cultured in the presence of DZNep and/or cisplatin. Cell growth was evaluated by counting viable cells, and apoptosis was determined by Apo2.7 expression by flow cytometry. In vivo, the antitumoral effect of the DZNep/cisplatin combination was assessed through measurements of tumor volume of JJ012 xenografts in nude mice. Results: In vitro, the DZNep/cisplatin combination reduced cell survival and increased apoptosis compared to each drug alone in chondrosarcomas, but not in normal cells (chondrocytes). This enhancement of the antitumoral effect of the DZNep/cisplatin combination required a priming incubation with DZNep before the co-treatment with DZNep/cisplatin. Furthermore, in the chondrosarcoma xenograft mice model, the combination of both drugs more strongly reduced tumor growth and induced more apoptosis in tumoral cells than each of the drugs alone. Conclusion: Our results show that DZNep exposure can presensitize chondrosarcoma cells to a standard anticancer drug, emphasizing the promising clinical utilities of epigenetic-chemotherapeutic drug combinations in the future treatment of chondrosarcomas.
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50
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Yao T, Xu X, Huang R. Recent Advances about the Applications of Click Reaction in Chemical Proteomics. Molecules 2021; 26:5368. [PMID: 34500797 PMCID: PMC8434046 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant advances in biological and analytical approaches, a comprehensive portrait of the proteome and its dynamic interactions and modifications remains a challenging goal. Chemical proteomics is a growing area of chemical biology that seeks to design small molecule probes to elucidate protein composition, distribution, and relevant physiological and pharmacological functions. Click chemistry focuses on the development of new combinatorial chemical methods for carbon heteroatom bond (C-X-C) synthesis, which have been utilized extensively in the field of chemical proteomics. Click reactions have various advantages including high yield, harmless by-products, and simple reaction conditions, upon which the molecular diversity can be easily and effectively obtained. This paper reviews the application of click chemistry in proteomics from four aspects: (1) activity-based protein profiling, (2) enzyme-inhibitors screening, (3) protein labeling and modifications, and (4) hybrid monolithic column in proteomic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Lab of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaowei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Lab of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Rong Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074, China;
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