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Nejati-Koshki K, Roberts CT, Babaei G, Rastegar M. The Epigenetic Reader Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) Is an Emerging Oncogene in Cancer Biology. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2683. [PMID: 37345019 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are gene regulatory processes that control gene expression and cellular identity. Epigenetic factors include the "writers", "readers", and "erasers" of epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation. Accordingly, the nuclear protein Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) is a reader of DNA methylation with key roles in cellular identity and function. Research studies have linked altered DNA methylation, deregulation of MeCP2 levels, or MECP2 gene mutations to different types of human disease. Due to the high expression level of MeCP2 in the brain, many studies have focused on its role in neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that MeCP2 also participates in the tumorigenesis of different types of human cancer, with potential oncogenic properties. It is well documented that aberrant epigenetic regulation such as altered DNA methylation may lead to cancer and the process of tumorigenesis. However, direct involvement of MeCP2 with that of human cancer was not fully investigated until lately. In recent years, a multitude of research studies from independent groups have explored the molecular mechanisms involving MeCP2 in a vast array of human cancers that focus on the oncogenic characteristics of MeCP2. Here, we provide an overview of the proposed role of MeCP2 as an emerging oncogene in different types of human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazem Nejati-Koshki
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil 85991-56189, Iran
| | - Chris-Tiann Roberts
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Ghader Babaei
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia 57157-89400, Iran
| | - Mojgan Rastegar
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
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Pandey S, Gupta VK, Lavania SP. Role of epigenetics in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Epigenomics 2023; 15:89-110. [PMID: 36647796 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers, associated with poor survival outcomes. Lack of early diagnosis, resistance to conventional therapeutic treatments (including immunotherapy) and recurrence are some of the major hurdles in PDAC and contribute to its poor survival rate. While the risk of genetic predisposition to cancers is widely acknowledged and understood, recent advances in whole-genome and next-generation sequencing techniques have led to the acknowledgment of the role played by epigenetics, especially in PDAC. Epigenetic changes are heritable genetic modifications that influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., DNA methylation, post-translational modification of histone complexes and ncRNA) that result in reversible changes in gene expression are increasingly understood to be responsible for tumor initiation, development and even escape from immune surveillance. Our review seeks to highlight the various components of the epigenetic machinery that are known to be implicated in PDAC initiation and development and the feasibility of targeting these components to identify novel pharmacological strategies that could potentially lead to breakthroughs in PDAC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somnath Pandey
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Vineet K Gupta
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Shweta P Lavania
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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3
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Selective CDK9 Inhibition by Natural Compound Toyocamycin in Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143340. [PMID: 35884401 PMCID: PMC9324262 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary By combining drug screens, transcriptomic studies, and in vitro assays, our study identified the natural product toyocamycin as a potent and selective CDK9 inhibitor. Thus, toyocamycin can be used as a new small molecule to modulate CDK9 activity in preclinical research. Through docking simulations, we identified its specific binding sites, which could spark some interest to design novel small molecule CDK9 inhibitors. Abstract Aberrant transcription in cancer cells involves the silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) and activation of oncogenes. Transcriptomic changes are associated with epigenomic alterations such as DNA-hypermethylation, histone deacetylation, and chromatin condensation in promoter regions of silenced TSGs. To discover novel drugs that trigger TSG reactivation in cancer cells, we used a GFP-reporter system whose expression is silenced by promoter DNA hypermethylation and histone deacetylation. After screening a natural product drug library, we identified that toyocamycin, an adenosine-analog, induces potent GFP reactivation and loss of clonogenicity in human colon cancer cells. Connectivity-mapping analysis revealed that toyocamycin produces a pharmacological signature mimicking cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors. RNA-sequencing revealed that the toyocamycin transcriptomic signature resembles that of a specific CDK9 inhibitor (HH1). Specific inhibition of RNA Pol II phosphorylation level and kinase assays confirmed that toyocamycin specifically inhibits CDK9 (IC50 = 79 nM) with a greater efficacy than other CDKs (IC50 values between 0.67 and 15 µM). Molecular docking showed that toyocamycin efficiently binds the CDK9 catalytic site in a conformation that differs from other CDKs, explained by the binding contribution of specific amino acids within the catalytic pocket and protein backbone. Altogether, we demonstrated that toyocamycin exhibits specific CDK9 inhibition in cancer cells, highlighting its potential for cancer chemotherapy.
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Wang B, Zhao Y, Li Y, Xu Y, Chen Y, Jiang Q, Yao D, Zhang L, Hu X, Fu C, Zhang S, Chen S. A plasma SNORD33 signature predicts platinum benefit in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:22. [PMID: 35042534 PMCID: PMC8764855 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01504-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Biyun Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yannan Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yingying Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yun Chen
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuyu Jiang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dingjin Yao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Li Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xichun Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Chaowei Fu
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Si Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - She Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Ramasamy D, Deva Magendhra Rao AK, Rajkumar T, Mani S. Non-CpG methylation-a key epigenetic modification in cancer. Brief Funct Genomics 2021; 20:304-311. [PMID: 34318313 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The methylation of cytosine residues that precede adenine/thymine or other cytosine nucleotides instead of guanine in DNA is known as non-CpG methylation. It is a pronounced epigenetic modification with a central role in gene regulation similar to CpG methylation. Due to technological limitations, the locus-specific role of non-CpG methylation was scarcely understood. At present, high-throughput analyses and improved enrichment methods can elucidate the role of genome-wide non-CpG methylation distributions. Although the functional basis of non-CpG methylation in regulating gene expression control is known, its role in cancer development is yet to be ascertained. This review sheds light on the possible mechanism of non-CpG methylation in embryos and developed tissues with a special focus on cancer development and progression. In particular, the maintenance and alteration of non-CpG methylation levels and the crucial factors that determine this level of non-CpG methylation and its functional role in cancer are discussed.
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Petkar MA, Rodrigo T. Primary cutaneous malignant melanoma in Rett syndrome: Report of a case with nuclear features resembling herpes simplex virus cytopathic effects-a hitherto unrecognized morphological variant. J Cutan Pathol 2021; 48:908-910. [PMID: 33345376 DOI: 10.1111/cup.13943] [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: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a progressive neurological disorder, affecting females with mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). While MECP2 has been implicated in cancers of the breast, colon, and prostrate, cancer in patients with RTT is rare. We present a case of malignant melanoma in a patient with RTT, which additionally, displayed hitherto undescribed nuclear features, resembling herpes simplex virus cytopathic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thushara Rodrigo
- Department of Histopathology, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, UK
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Castro-Piedras I, Vartak D, Sharma M, Pandey S, Casas L, Molehin D, Rasha F, Fokar M, Nichols J, Almodovar S, Rahman RL, Pruitt K. Identification of Novel MeCP2 Cancer-Associated Target Genes and Post-Translational Modifications. Front Oncol 2020; 10:576362. [PMID: 33363010 PMCID: PMC7758440 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.576362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal regulation of DNA methylation and its readers has been associated with a wide range of cellular dysfunction. Disruption of the normal function of DNA methylation readers contributes to cancer progression, neurodevelopmental disorders, autoimmune disease and other pathologies. One reader of DNA methylation known to be especially important is MeCP2. It acts a bridge and connects DNA methylation with histone modifications and regulates many gene targets contributing to various diseases; however, much remains unknown about how it contributes to cancer malignancy. We and others previously described novel MeCP2 post-translational regulation. We set out to test the hypothesis that MeCP2 would regulate novel genes linked with tumorigenesis and that MeCP2 is subject to additional post-translational regulation not previously identified. Herein we report novel genes bound and regulated by MeCP2 through MeCP2 ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analyses in two breast cancer cell lines representing different breast cancer subtypes. Through genomics analyses, we localize MeCP2 to novel gene targets and further define the full range of gene targets within breast cancer cell lines. We also further examine the scope of clinical and pre-clinical lysine deacetylase inhibitors (KDACi) that regulate MeCP2 post-translationally. Through proteomics analyses, we identify many additional novel acetylation sites, nine of which are mutated in Rett Syndrome. Our study provides important new insight into downstream targets of MeCP2 and provide the first comprehensive map of novel sites of acetylation associated with both pre-clinical and FDA-approved KDACi used in the clinic. This report examines a critical reader of DNA methylation and has important implications for understanding MeCP2 regulation in cancer models and identifying novel molecular targets associated with epigenetic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Castro-Piedras
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - David Vartak
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Monica Sharma
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Somnath Pandey
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Laura Casas
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Deborah Molehin
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Fahmida Rasha
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Mohamed Fokar
- Center for Biotechnology & Genomics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Jacob Nichols
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Sharilyn Almodovar
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | | | - Kevin Pruitt
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
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Wang H, Li J, He J, Liu Y, Feng W, Zhou H, Zhou M, Wei H, Lu Y, Peng W, Du F, Gong A, Xu M. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 drives the Furin/TGF-β1/Smad axis to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer cells. Oncogenesis 2020; 9:76. [PMID: 32848128 PMCID: PMC7450052 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-020-00258-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) has been characterized as an oncogene in several types of cancer. However, its precise role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the potential role of MeCP2 in pancreatic cancer progression. We found that MeCP2 was upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues, enhanced migration, invasion, and proliferation in pancreatic cancer cells, and promoted tumorigenesis. Further evidence revealed that MeCP2 remarkably increased the mesenchymal markers vimentin, N-cadherin, and Snail, and downregulated the expression of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1, indicating that MeCP2 promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, we found that MeCP2 upregulated the expression of Furin, activated TGF-β1, and increased the levels of p-Smad2/3. Importantly, we demonstrated that MeCP2, as a coactivator, enhanced Smad3 binding to the furin promoter to improve its transcription. Therefore, MeCP2/Smads drive the expression of Furin to activate TGF-β1, and in turn, phosphorylate Smad2/3, which forms a positive-feedback axis to promote EMT in pancreatic cancer cells.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Jingzhou, 8 Aviation Road, Jingzhou, 434000, China
| | - Junbo He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Yawen Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Wen Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Hailang Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Meng Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Hong Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Ying Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Wanxin Peng
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Fengyi Du
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Aihua Gong
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China.
| | - Min Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang, 212000, China.
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MeCP2 Promotes Colorectal Cancer Metastasis by Modulating ZEB1 Transcription. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030758. [PMID: 32210086 PMCID: PMC7140043 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Recurrence and distant organ metastasis is a major cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating this phenomenon are poorly understood. MeCP2 is a key epigenetic regulator and is amplified in many types of cancer. Its role in CRC and the molecular mechanisms underlying its action remain unknown. Methods: We used western blot and immunohistochemistry to detect MeCP2 expression in CRC tissues, and then investigated its biological functions in vitro and in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, co-immunoprecipitation, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were used to detect the associations among MeCP2 (Methyl-CpG binding protein 2), SPI1 (Spi-1 Proto-Oncogene), and ZEB1 (Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox 1). Results: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas and Oncomine databases, we found MeCP2 expression was upregulated in CRC tissues and this upregulation was related to poor prognosis. Meanwhile, MeCP2 depletion (KO/KD) in CRC cells significantly inhibited stem cell frequency, and invasion and migration ability in vitro, and suppressed CRC metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we show MeCP2 binds to the transcription factor SPI1, and aids its recruitment to the ZEB1 promoter. SPI1 then facilitates ZEB1 expression at the transcription level. In turn, ZEB1 induces the expression of MMP14, CD133, and SOX2, thereby maintaining CRC stemness and metastasis. Conclusions: MeCP2 is a novel regulator of CRC metastasis. MeCP2 suppression may be a promising therapeutic strategy in CRC.
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