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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Wang C, Heo Y, Tumenbayar BI, Lee SH, Bae Y, Chin Heo S. Epigenetic Dynamics in Meniscus Cell Migration and its Zonal Dependency in Response to Inflammatory Conditions: Implications for Regeneration Strategies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.22.604178. [PMID: 39091842 PMCID: PMC11291020 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.22.604178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Meniscus injuries pose significant challenges in clinical settings, primarily due to the intrinsic heterogeneity of the tissue and the limited efficacy of current treatments. Endogenous cell migration is crucial for the healing process, yet the regulatory mechanisms of meniscus cell migration and its zonal dependency within the meniscus are not fully understood. Thus, this study investigates the role of epigenetic mechanisms in governing meniscus cell migration under inflammatory conditions, with a focus on their implications for injury healing and regeneration. Here, we discovered that a proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-α treatment significantly impedes the migration speed of inner meniscus cells, while outer meniscus cells are unaffected, underscoring a zonal-dependent response within the meniscus. Our analysis identified distinct histone modification patterns and chromatin dynamics between inner and outer meniscus cells during migration, highlighting the necessity to consider these zonal-dependent properties in devising repair strategies. Specifically, we found that TNF-α differentially influences histone modifications, particularly H3K27me3, between the two cell types. Transcriptome analysis further revealed that TNF-α treatment induces substantial gene expression changes, with inner meniscus cells exhibiting more pronounced alterations than outer cells. Gene cluster analysis pointed to distinct responses in chromatin remodeling, extracellular matrix assembly, and wound healing processes between the zonal cell populations. Moreover, we identified potential therapeutic targets by employing existing epigenetic drugs, GSKJ4 (a histone demethylase inhibitor) and C646 (a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor), to successfully restore the migration speed of inner meniscus cells under inflammatory conditions. This highlights their potential utility in treating meniscus tear injuries. Overall, our findings elucidate the intricate interplay between epigenetic mechanisms and meniscus cell migration, along with its meniscus zonal dependency. This study provides insights into potential targets for enhancing meniscus repair and regeneration, which may lead to improved clinical outcomes for patients with meniscus injuries and osteoarthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yize Zhang
- McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yujia Zhang
- McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Catherine Wang
- McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yuna Heo
- McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bat-Ider Tumenbayar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Se-Hwan Lee
- McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yongho Bae
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Su Chin Heo
- McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Sun PH, Xia S, Yuan R, Zhang B, Wang G. TMEM176B Promotes EMT via FGFR/JNK Signalling in Development and Tumourigenesis of Lung Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2447. [PMID: 39001509 PMCID: PMC11240709 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related incidence and mortality worldwide, is characterised by high invasiveness and poor prognosis. Novel therapeutic targets are required, especially for patients with inoperable metastatic disease requiring systemic therapies to improve patients' welfare. Recently, studies indicated that TMEM176B is a positive regulator in breast and gastric cancers, and it could be a potential target for treatment. In this study, we used single-cell sequencing, proteomics, Co-IP, and in vivo and in vitro experimental models to investigate the role of TMEM176B in lung adenocarcinoma development. Our study indicated that TMEM176B expression was enhanced in lung adenocarcinoma tissues, and it was associated with shorter overall survival (OS). TMEM176B promoted cellular functions, including cell proliferation, invasion, migration and adhesion in vitro and tumour growth in vivo. Moreover, the tube formation ability of endothelial cells was enhanced by treating with the tumour cell-conditioned medium. We have also demonstrated that TMEM176B regulated EMT via the FGFR1/JNK/Vimentin/Snail signalling cascade. Overall, our study suggests TMEM176B could be a potential therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Hui Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China; (P.-H.S.); (B.Z.)
- Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Siyu Xia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Dongguan 523000, China;
| | - Runzhu Yuan
- School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China;
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China; (P.-H.S.); (B.Z.)
| | - Guangsuo Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China; (P.-H.S.); (B.Z.)
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Sharma V, Vinchure OS, Yadav G, Sarkar C, Kulshreshtha R. A novel interplay between PRC2 and miR-3189 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via modulating COL6A2 in glioblastoma. J Cell Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38860406 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31326] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have shed light on disrupted collagen signaling in Gliomas, yet the regulatory landscape remains largely unexplored. This study enquired into the role of polycomb repressive complex-2 (PRC2)-mediated H3K27me3 modification, a key epigenetic factor in glioma. Using in-house data, we identified miRNAs downregulated in glioblastoma (GBM) with the potential to regulate Collagen VI family genes. Notably, miR-3189 emerged as a prime PRC2 target. Its expression was significantly downregulated in Indian GBM patients as well as other glioma cohorts. Mechanistic insights, involving Luciferase assays, mutagenesis, and Western blot analysis, confirmed direct targeting of Collagen VI member COL6A2 by miR-3189-3p. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-3189-3p restrained GBM malignancy by inhibiting proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Conversely, COL6A2 overexpressed in GBM patients, countered miR-3189, and promoted the malignant phenotype. Gene set enrichment analysis highlighted EMT enrichment in GBM patients with elevated COL6A2 expression, carrying prognostic implications. This study uncovers intricate interactions between two epigenetic regulators-H3K27me3 and miR-3189-working synergistically to modulate Collagen VI gene; thus, influencing the malignancy of GBM. Targeting this H3K27me3|miR-3189-3p|COL6A2 axis presents a potential therapeutic avenue against GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Sharma
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
- Centralized Core Research Facility, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Omkar Suhas Vinchure
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Garima Yadav
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Chitra Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ritu Kulshreshtha
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
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4
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Ghobashi AH, Vuong TT, Kimani JW, Ladaika CA, Hollenhorst PC, O’Hagan HM. Activation of AKT induces EZH2-mediated β-catenin trimethylation in colorectal cancer. iScience 2023; 26:107630. [PMID: 37670785 PMCID: PMC10475482 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107630] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops in part through the deregulation of different signaling pathways, including activation of the WNT/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT pathways. Additionally, the lysine methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is commonly overexpressed in CRC. EZH2 canonically represses gene transcription by trimethylating lysine 27 of histone H3, but also has non-histone substrates. Here, we demonstrated that in CRC, active AKT phosphorylated EZH2 on serine 21. Phosphorylation of EZH2 by AKT induced EZH2 to interact with and methylate β-catenin at lysine 49, which increased β-catenin's binding to the chromatin. Additionally, EZH2-mediated β-catenin trimethylation induced β-catenin to interact with TCF1 and RNA polymerase II and resulted in dramatic gains in genomic regions with β-catenin occupancy. EZH2 catalytic inhibition decreased stemness but increased migratory phenotypes of CRC cells with active AKT. Overall, we demonstrated that EZH2 modulates AKT-induced changes in gene expression through the AKT/EZH2/β-catenin axis in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed H. Ghobashi
- Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Truc T. Vuong
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Jane W. Kimani
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Christopher A. Ladaika
- Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Peter C. Hollenhorst
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Heather M. O’Hagan
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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5
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Grolleau E, Candiracci J, Lescuyer G, Barthelemy D, Benzerdjeb N, Haon C, Geiguer F, Raffin M, Hardat N, Balandier J, Rabeuf R, Chalabreysse L, Wozny AS, Rommelaere G, Rodriguez-Lafrasse C, Subtil F, Couraud S, Herzog M, Payen-Gay L. Circulating H3K27 Methylated Nucleosome Plasma Concentration: Synergistic Information with Circulating Tumor DNA Molecular Profiling. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1255. [PMID: 37627320 PMCID: PMC10452235 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081255] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular profiling of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a helpful tool not only in cancer treatment, but also in the early detection of relapse. However, the clinical interpretation of a ctDNA negative result remains challenging. The characterization of circulating nucleosomes (carrying cell-free DNA) and associated epigenetic modifications (playing a key role in the tumorigenesis of different cancers) may provide useful information for patient management, by supporting the contributive value of ctDNA molecular profiling. Significantly elevated concentrations of H3K27Me3 nucleosomes were found in plasmas at the diagnosis, and during the follow-up, of NSCLC patients, compared to healthy donors (p-value < 0.0001). By combining the H3K27Me3 level and the ctDNA molecular profile, we found that 25.5% of the patients had H3K27Me3 levels above the cut off, and no somatic alteration was detected at diagnosis. This strongly supports the presence of non-mutated ctDNA in the corresponding plasma. During the patient follow-up, a high H3K27Me3-nucleosome level was found in 15.1% of the sample, despite no somatic mutations being detected, allowing the identification of disease progression from 43.1% to 58.2% over molecular profiling alone. Measuring H3K27Me3-nucleosome levels in combination with ctDNA molecular profiling may improve confidence in the negative molecular result for cfDNA in lung cancer at diagnosis, and may also be a promising biomarker for molecular residual disease (MRD) monitoring, during and/or after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Grolleau
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Pulmonology Department, Lyon Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Julie Candiracci
- Belgian Volition SRL, Parc Scientifique Créalys, 5032 Isnes, Belgium
| | - Gaelle Lescuyer
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences (ISPB), Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69373 Lyon, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - David Barthelemy
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences (ISPB), Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69373 Lyon, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Nazim Benzerdjeb
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Pathology Department, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69677 Bron, France
| | - Christine Haon
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Florence Geiguer
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences (ISPB), Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69373 Lyon, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Margaux Raffin
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences (ISPB), Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69373 Lyon, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Nathalie Hardat
- Belgian Volition SRL, Parc Scientifique Créalys, 5032 Isnes, Belgium
| | - Julie Balandier
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences (ISPB), Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69373 Lyon, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Rémi Rabeuf
- Belgian Volition SRL, Parc Scientifique Créalys, 5032 Isnes, Belgium
| | - Lara Chalabreysse
- Pathology Department, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69677 Bron, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Wozny
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology Laboratory UMR CNRS5822/IP2I, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
| | | | - Claire Rodriguez-Lafrasse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology Laboratory UMR CNRS5822/IP2I, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
| | - Fabien Subtil
- Statistic Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- LBBE, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, UMR 5558, CNRS, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Sébastien Couraud
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Pulmonology Department, Lyon Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Marielle Herzog
- Belgian Volition SRL, Parc Scientifique Créalys, 5032 Isnes, Belgium
| | - Lea Payen-Gay
- Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69921 Oullins, France
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences (ISPB), Claude Bernard University Lyon I, 69373 Lyon, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
- Circulating Cancer (CIRCAN) Program, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Institute, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
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Sample RA, Nogueira MF, Mitra RD, Puram SV. Epigenetic regulation of hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal cell states in cancer. Oncogene 2023; 42:2237-2248. [PMID: 37344626 PMCID: PMC10578205 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02749-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which cells lose their epithelial characteristics and gain mesenchymal phenotypes. In cancer, EMT is thought to drive tumor invasion and metastasis. Recent efforts to understand EMT biology have uncovered that cells undergoing EMT attain a spectrum of intermediate "hybrid E/M" states, which exist along an epithelial-mesenchymal continuum. Here, we summarize recent studies characterizing the epigenetic drivers of hybrid E/M states. We focus on the histone-modification writers, erasers, and readers that assist or oppose the canonical hybrid E/M transcription factors that modulate hybrid E/M state transitions. We also examine the role of chromatin remodelers and DNA methylation in hybrid E/M states. Finally, we highlight the challenges of targeting hybrid E/M pharmacologically, and we propose future directions that might reveal the specific and targetable mechanisms by which hybrid E/M drives metastasis in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reilly A Sample
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marina F Nogueira
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Robi D Mitra
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Sidharth V Puram
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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7
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Bartoszewska S, Sławski J, Collawn JF, Bartoszewski R. HIF-1-Induced hsa-miR-429: Understanding Its Direct Targets as the Key to Developing Cancer Diagnostics and Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112903. [PMID: 37296866 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112903] [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] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in the regulation of mRNA stability and translation. In spite of our present knowledge on the mechanisms of mRNA regulation by miRNAs, the utilization and translation of these ncRNAs into clinical applications have been problematic. Using hsa-miR-429 as an example, we discuss the limitations encountered in the development of efficient miRNA-related therapies and diagnostic approaches. The miR-200 family members, which include hsa-miR-429, have been shown to be dysregulated in different types of cancer. Although these miR-200 family members have been shown to function in suppressing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, tumor metastasis, and chemoresistance, the experimental results have often been contradictory. These complications involve not only the complex networks involving these noncoding RNAs, but also the problem of identifying false positives. To overcome these limitations, a more comprehensive research strategy is needed to increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying their biological role in mRNA regulation. Here, we provide a literature analysis of the verified hsa-miR-429 targets in various human research models. A meta-analysis of this work is presented to provide better insights into the role of hsa-miR-429 in cancer diagnosis and any potential therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Bartoszewska
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-416 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jakub Sławski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - James F Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Rafal Bartoszewski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
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8
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Workman S, Wilson MJ. RNA sequencing and expression analysis reveal a role for Lhx9 in the haploinsufficient adult mouse ovary. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:295-309. [PMID: 37084273 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23686] [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: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular pathways that underpin ovarian development and function is vital for improving the research approaches to investigating fertility. Despite a significant improvement in our knowledge of molecular activity in the ovary, many questions remain unanswered in the quest to understand factors influencing fertility and ovarian pathologies such as cancer. Here, we present an investigation into the expression and function of the developmental transcription factor LIM Homeobox 9 (LHX9) in the adult mouse ovary. We have characterized Lhx9 expression in several cell types of the mature ovary across follicle stages. To evaluate possible LHX9 function in the adult ovary, we investigated ovarian anatomy and transcription in an Lhx9+/- knockout mouse model displaying subfertility. Despite a lack of gross anatomical differences between genotypes, RNA-sequencing found that 90 differentially expressed genes between Lhx9+/ - and Lhx9+/+ mice. Gene ontology analyses revealed a reduced expression of genes with major roles in ovarian steroidogenesis and an increased expression of genes associated with ovarian cancer. Analysis of the ovarian epithelium revealed Lhx9+/ - mice have a disorganized epithelial phenotype, corresponding to a significant increase in epithelial marker gene expression. These results provide an analysis of Lhx9 in the adult mouse ovary, suggesting a role in fertility and ovarian epithelial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Workman
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Megan J Wilson
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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9
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Chung YH, Huang GK, Kang CH, Cheng YT, Kao YH, Chien YS. MicroRNA-26a-5p Restoration Ameliorates Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction-Induced Renal Fibrosis In Mice Through Modulating TGF-β Signaling. J Transl Med 2023; 103:100131. [PMID: 36948295 DOI: 10.1016/j.labinv.2023.100131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic and progressive renal diseases characterized by excessive fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix accumulation, and loss of renal function, eventually leading to end-stage renal diseases. MicroRNA-26a-5p downregulation has been previously noted in the sera of unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO)-injured mice, and exosome-mediated miR-26a-5p reportedly attenuated experimental pulmonary and cardiac fibrosis. This study evaluated the expression patterns of miR-26a in human tissue microarray with kidney fibrosis and in tissues from a mouse model of UUO-induced renal fibrosis. Histological analyses showed that miR-26a-5p was downregulated in human and mouse tissues with renal interstitial nephritis and fibrosis. Moreover, miR-26a-5p restoration by intravenous injection of a mimic agent prominently suppressed the expression of TGF-β1 and its cognate receptors, the inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and inflammatory markers in UUO-injured kidney tissues. In vitro miR-26a-5p mimic delivery significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced activation of cultured rat kidney NRK-49F cells, in terms of downregulation of TGF-β1 receptors, restoration of epithelial marker E-cadherin, and suppression of mesenchymal markers, including vimentin, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin, as well as TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling activity. Our findings identified miR-26a-5p downregulation in kidney tissues from human interstitial nephritis and UUO-induced mouse kidney fibrosis. MiR-26a-5p restoration may exhibit an anti-fibrotic effect through the blockade of both TGF-β and NF-κB signaling axes and is considered a novel therapeutic target for treating obstruction-induced renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueh-Hua Chung
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Gong-Kai Huang
- Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsiung Kang
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Tso Cheng
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hsien Kao
- Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Shu Chien
- Division of Nephrology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan.
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10
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Srivastava A, Sharma H, Chowdhury S, Chowdhury R, Mukherjee S. Transforming growth factor- β mediated regulation of epigenome is required for epithelial to mesenchymal transition associated features in liver cancer cells. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14665. [PMID: 37095942 PMCID: PMC10121648 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently unfolds under an inflammatory condition, which is a hub for a plethora of cytokines. A better understanding of the cytokine functions and their contributions to disease development is key to design of future therapeutic strategies and reduction of global HCC burden. In this context, one of the major cytokines present in the HCC tumour milieu is the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). One of its classical functions involve facilitation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), in tumour cells, promoting an invasive phenotype. In spite of its clinical relevance, the cellular events associated with TGF-β-induced EMT and its molecular regulation is poorly elucidated. Therefore, as part of this study, we treated HCC cells with TGF-β and characterized the cellular processes associated with EMT. Interestingly, EMT triggered by TGF-β was found to be associated with cytostasis and altered cellular metabolism. TGF-β resulted in down-regulation of cell cycle-associated transcripts, like Cyclin A2 (CCNA2), and metabolic genes, like Glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1 (GOT1) through epigenetic silencing. An overall increase in total histone repressive mark (H3K27me3) associated with a specific enrichment of H3K27me3 at the upstream promoter region of CCNA2 and GOT1 was observed after TGF-β exposure, leading to their down-regulation. Importantly, TGF-β-downstream signalling mediator- SMAD and chromatin repressive complex member-enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) were found to co-immunoprecipitate and were required for the above effects. Overall, our findings reflect that HCC cells undergoing EMT, attain cytostasis and modulate metabolic demands to efficiently facilitate the EMT differentiation switch, and these events are regulated at the epigenomic level through TGF-β-mediated signalling. Our results provide better understanding of cellular invasive features which can lead to development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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11
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Ghobashi AH, Vuong TT, Kimani JW, O'Hagan HM. Activation of AKT induces EZH2-mediated β-catenin trimethylation in colorectal cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.31.526429. [PMID: 36778289 PMCID: PMC9915619 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.31.526429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops in part through the deregulation of different signaling pathways, including activation of the WNT/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT pathways. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a lysine methyltransferase that is involved in regulating stem cell development and differentiation and is overexpressed in CRC. However, depending on the study EZH2 has been found to be both positively and negatively correlated with the survival of CRC patients suggesting that EZH2's role in CRC may be context specific. In this study, we explored how PI3K/AKT activation alters EZH2's role in CRC. We found that activation of AKT by PTEN knockdown or by hydrogen peroxide treatment induced EZH2 phosphorylation at serine 21. Phosphorylation of EZH2 resulted in EZH2-mediated methylation of β-catenin and an associated increased interaction between β-catenin, TCF1, and RNA polymerase II. AKT activation increased β-catenin's enrichment across the genome and EZH2 inhibition reduced this enrichment by reducing the methylation of β-catenin. Furthermore, PTEN knockdown increased the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes, and somewhat unexpectedly EZH2 inhibition further increased the expression of these genes. Consistent with these findings, EZH2 inhibition enhanced the migratory phenotype of PTEN knockdown cells. Overall, we demonstrated that EZH2 modulates AKT-induced changes in gene expression through the AKT/EZH2/ β-catenin axis in CRC with active PI3K/AKT signaling. Therefore, it is important to consider the use of EZH2 inhibitors in CRC with caution as these inhibitors will inhibit EZH2-mediated methylation of histone and non-histone targets such as β-catenin, which can have tumor-promoting effects.
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12
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miRNA let-7a inhibits invasion, migration, anchorage-independent growth by suppressing EZH2 and promotes mesenchymal to epithelial transition in MDAMB-231. GENE REPORTS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2023.101752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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13
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The Role of Cytokines in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gynaecological Cancers: A Systematic Review. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030416. [PMID: 36766756 PMCID: PMC9913821 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation has been closely linked to the development and progression of various cancers. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process involving the acquisition of mesenchymal features by carcinoma cells and is an important link between inflammation and cancer development. Inflammatory mediators in the tumour micro-environment, such as cytokines and chemokines, can promote EMT changes in cancer cells. The aim of this systematic review is to analyse the effect of cytokines on EMT in gynaecological cancers and discuss their possible therapeutic implications. A search of the databases CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, PubMed, TRIP, and Web of Science was performed using the keywords: "cytokines" AND "epithelial mesenchymal transition OR transformation" AND "gynaecological cancer". Seventy-one articles reported that various cytokines, such as TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6, etc., promoted EMT changes in ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers. The EMT changes included from epithelial to mesenchymal morphological change, downregulation of the epithelial markers E-cadherin/β-catenin, upregulation of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin/vimentin/fibronectin, and upregulation of the EMT-transformation factors (EMT-TF) SNAI1/SNAI2/TWIST/ZEB. Cytokine-induced EMT can lead to gynaecological cancer development and metastasis and hence novel therapies targeting the cytokines or their EMT signalling pathways could possibly prevent cancer progression, reduce cancer recurrence, and prevent drug-resistance.
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14
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Dalpatraj N, Naik A, Thakur N. Combination Treatment of a Phytochemical and a Histone Demethylase Inhibitor-A Novel Approach towards Targeting TGFβ-Induced EMT, Invasion, and Migration in Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031860. [PMID: 36768182 PMCID: PMC9915876 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Minimizing side effects, overcoming cancer drug resistance, and preventing metastasis of cancer cells are of growing interest in current cancer therapeutics. Phytochemicals are being researched in depth as they are protective to normal cells and have fewer side effects. Hesperetin is a citrus bioflavonoid known to inhibit TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cells. Targeting epigenetic modifications that cause cancer is another class of upcoming therapeutics, as these changes are reversible. Global H3K27me3 levels have been found to be reduced in invasive prostate adenocarcinomas. Combining a demethylase inhibitor and a known anti-cancer phytochemical is a unique approach to targeting cancer to attain the aforementioned objectives. In the current study, we used an H3K27 demethylase (JMJD3/KDM6B) inhibitor to study its effects on TGFβ-induced EMT in prostate cancer cells. We then gave a combined hesperetin and GSK-J4 treatment to the PC-3 and LNCaP cells. There was a dose-dependent increase in cytotoxicity and inhibition of TGFβ-induced migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells after GSK-J4 treatment. GSK-J4 not only induced trimethylation of H3K27 but also induced the trimethylation of H3K4. Surprisingly, there was a reduction in the H3K9me3 levels. GSK-J4 alone and a combination of hesperetin and GSK-J4 treatment effectively inhibit the important hallmarks of cancer, such as cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, by altering the epigenetic landscape of cancer cells.
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15
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The role and application of transcriptional repressors in cancer treatment. Arch Pharm Res 2023; 46:1-17. [PMID: 36645575 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-023-01427-4] [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: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression is modulated through the integration of many regulatory elements and their associated transcription factors (TFs). TFs bind to specific DNA sequences and either activate or repress transcriptional activity. Through decades of research, it has been established that aberrant expression or functional abnormalities of TFs can lead to uncontrolled cell division and the development of cancer. Initial studies on transcriptional regulation in cancer have focused on TFs as transcriptional activators. However, recent studies have demonstrated several different mechanisms of transcriptional repression in cancer, which could be potential therapeutic targets for the development of specific anti-cancer agents. In the first section of this review, "Emerging roles of transcriptional repressors in cancer development," we summarize the current understanding of transcriptional repressors and their involvement in the molecular processes of cancer progression. In the subsequent section, "Therapeutic applications," we provide an updated overview of the available therapeutic targets for drug discovery and discuss the new frontier of such applications.
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16
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Saha S, Pradhan N, B N, Mahadevappa R, Minocha S, Kumar S. Cancer plasticity: Investigating the causes for this agility. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 88:138-156. [PMID: 36584960 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is not a hard-wired phenomenon but an evolutionary disease. From the onset of carcinogenesis, cancer cells continuously adapt and evolve to satiate their ever-growing proliferation demands. This results in the formation of multiple subtypes of cancer cells with different phenotypes, cellular compositions, and consequently displaying varying degrees of tumorigenic identity and function. This phenomenon is referred to as cancer plasticity, during which the cancer cells exist in a plethora of cellular states having distinct phenotypes. With the advent of modern technologies equipped with enhanced resolution and depth, for example, single-cell RNA-sequencing and advanced computational tools, unbiased cancer profiling at a single-cell resolution are leading the way in understanding cancer cell rewiring both spatially and temporally. In this review, the processes and mechanisms that give rise to cancer plasticity include both intrinsic genetic factors such as epigenetic changes, differential expression due to changes in DNA, RNA, or protein content within the cancer cell, as well as extrinsic environmental factors such as tissue perfusion, extracellular milieu are detailed and their influence on key cancer plasticity hallmarks such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer cell stemness (CSCs) are discussed. Due to therapy evasion and drug resistance, tumor heterogeneity caused by cancer plasticity has major therapeutic ramifications. Hence, it is crucial to comprehend all the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control cellular plasticity. How this process evades therapy, and the therapeutic avenue of targeting cancer plasticity must be diligently investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhraneel Saha
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Nikita Pradhan
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Neha B
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Ravikiran Mahadevappa
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Science, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, Deemed to be University, Bengaluru, Karnataka 562163, India
| | - Shilpi Minocha
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
| | - Saran Kumar
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
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17
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Nourmohammadi F, Forghanifard MM, Abbaszadegan MR, Zarrinpour V. EZH2 regulates oncomiR-200c and EMT markers in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18290. [PMID: 36316365 PMCID: PMC9622866 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23253-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
EZH2, as a histone methyltransferase, has been associated with cancer development and metastasis possibly through the regulation of microRNAs and cellular pathways such as EMT. In this study, the effect of EZH2 expression on miR-200c and important genes of the EMT pathway was investigated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Comparative qRT-PCR was used to examine EZH2 expression in ESCC lines (YM-1 and KYSE-30) following the separately transfected silencing and ectopic expressional EZH2 vectors in ESCC. Subsequently, expression of miR-200c and EMT markers was also assessed using qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Underexpression of Mir200c was detected in YM-1 and KYSE-30 cells after EZH2 silencing, while its overexpression was observed after EZH2 induced expression. Following EZH2 silencing, downregulation of mesenchymal markers and upregulation of epithelial markers were detected in the ESCCs. Our results demonstrate that EZH2 regulates the expression of miR-200c and critical EMT genes, implying that overexpression of Zeb2, Fibronectin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin lead to a mesenchymal phenotype and morphology while underexpression of epithelial genes, enhance cell migration after enforced expression of EZH2 in ESCCs. EZH2 gene can be a beneficial treatment marker for patients with esophageal cancer through decrease invasiveness of the disease and efficient response to neoadjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vajiheh Zarrinpour
- Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
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18
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Lee JH, Massagué J. TGF-β in Developmental and Fibrogenic EMTs. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:136-145. [PMID: 36183999 PMCID: PMC10155902 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
TGF-β plays a prominent role as an inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) during development and wound healing and in disease conditions such as fibrosis and cancer. During these processes EMT occurs together with changes in cell proliferation, differentiation, communication, and extracellular matrix remodeling that are orchestrated by multiple signaling inputs besides TGF-β. Chief among these inputs is RAS-MAPK signaling, which is frequently required for EMT induction by TGF-β. Recent work elucidated the molecular basis for the cooperation between the TGF-β-SMAD and RAS-MAPK pathways in the induction of EMT in embryonic, adult and carcinoma epithelial cells. These studies also provided direct mechanistic links between EMT and progenitor cell differentiation during gastrulation or intra-tumoral fibrosis during cancer metastasis. These insights illuminate the nature of TGF-β driven EMTs as part of broader processes during development, fibrogenesis and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ho Lee
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Joan Massagué
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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19
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Zhou R, Xie F, Liu K, Zhou X, Chen X, Chen J, Xi S, Huang Z, Rong X. Cross talk between acetylation and methylation regulators reveals histone modifier expression patterns posing prognostic and therapeutic implications on patients with colon cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:70. [PMID: 35606881 PMCID: PMC9128235 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01290-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alterations in histone modifications have been reported to be related to tumorigenicity and tumor progression. However, whether histone modification can aid the classification of patients or influence clinical behavior in patients with colon cancer remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate histone modifier expression patterns using the unsupervised clustering of the transcriptomic expressions of 88 histone acetylation and methylation regulators. Results In this study, by consensus clustering analysis based on the transcriptome data of 88 histone modification regulators, we identified four distinct expression patterns of histone modifiers associated with different prognoses, intrinsic fluorouracil sensitivities, biological pathways, and tumor microenvironment characteristics among 1372 colon cancer samples. In these four clusters, the HMC4 cluster represented a stroma activation phenotype characterized by both the worst prognosis and lowest response rates to fluorouracil treatment. Then, we established a scoring scheme comprising 155 genes designated as “HM_score” by using the Boruta algorithm to distinguish colon cancer patients within the HMC4 cluster. Patients with a high HM_score were considered to have high stromal pathway activation, high stromal fraction, and an unfavorable prognosis. Further analyses indicated that a high HM_score also correlated with reduced therapeutic benefits from fluorouracil chemotherapy. Moreover, through CRISPR library screening, ZEB2 was found to be a critical driver gene that mediates fluorouracil resistance, which is associated with histone modifier expression patterns. Conclusions This study highlights that characterizing histone modifier expression patterns may help better understand the epigenetic mechanisms underlying tumor heterogeneity in patients with colon cancer and provide more personalized therapeutic strategies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-022-01290-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuli Xie
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Kuncai Liu
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuee Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Radiotherapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinzhang Chen
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaoyan Xi
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhenhua Huang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoxiang Rong
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Moyret-Lalle C, Prodhomme MK, Burlet D, Kashiwagi A, Petrilli V, Puisieux A, Seimiya H, Tissier A. Role of EMT in the DNA damage response, double-strand break repair pathway choice and its implications in cancer treatment. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:2214-2223. [PMID: 35534984 PMCID: PMC9277259 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics have now been demonstrated to participate in tumor development. Indeed, EMT is involved in invasion, acquisition of stem cell properties, and therapy‐associated resistance of cancer cells. Together, these mechanisms offer advantages in adapting to changes in the tumor microenvironment. However, recent findings have shown that EMT‐associated transcription factors (EMT‐TFs) may also be involved in DNA repair. A better understanding of the coordination between the DNA repair pathways and the role played by some EMT‐TFs in the DNA damage response (DDR) should pave the way for new treatments targeting tumor‐specific molecular vulnerabilities, which result in selective destruction of cancer cells. Here we review recent advances, providing novel insights into the role of EMT in the DDR and repair pathways, with a particular focus on the influence of EMT on cellular sensitivity to damage, as well as the implications of these relationships for improving the efficacy of cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Moyret-Lalle
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon, Lyon, France.,LabEx DEVweCAN, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Mélanie K Prodhomme
- Department of Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Delphine Burlet
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Ayaka Kashiwagi
- Division of Molecular Biotherapy, Cancer Chemotherapy Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Virginie Petrilli
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Alain Puisieux
- Institut Curie, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Hiroyuki Seimiya
- Division of Molecular Biotherapy, Cancer Chemotherapy Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Agnès Tissier
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon, Lyon, France
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21
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Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies PRC2 and KMT2D-COMPASS as regulators of distinct EMT trajectories that contribute differentially to metastasis. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:554-564. [PMID: 35411083 PMCID: PMC9037576 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00877-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) programs operate within carcinoma
cells in which they generate phenotypes associated with malignant progression.
In their various manifestations, EMT programs enable epithelial cells to enter
into a series of intermediate states arrayed along the E-M phenotypic spectrum.
At present, we lack a coherent understanding of how carcinoma cells control
their entrance into and continued residence in these various states, and which
of these states favor the process of metastasis. Here, we characterize a layer
of EMT-regulating machinery that governs E-M plasticity (EMP). This machinery
consists of two chromatin-modifying complexes, PRC2 and KMT2D-COMPASS, that
operate as critical regulators to maintain a stable epithelial state.
Interestingly, loss of these two complexes unlocks two distinct EMT
trajectories. Dysfunction of PRC2, but not KMT2D-COMPASS, yields a
quasi-mesenchymal state that is associated with highly metastatic capabilities
and poor survival of breast cancer patients, suggesting great caution should be
applied when PRC2 inhibitors are evaluated clinically in certain patient
cohorts. These observations identify epigenetic factors that regulate E-M
plasticity, determine specific intermediate EMT states and, as a direct
consequence, govern the metastatic ability of carcinoma cells.
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22
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Koutelou E, Dent SYR. Navigating EMT with COMPASS and PRC2. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:412-414. [DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00876-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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23
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Nowak E, Bednarek I. Aspects of the Epigenetic Regulation of EMT Related to Cancer Metastasis. Cells 2021; 10:3435. [PMID: 34943943 PMCID: PMC8700111 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs during the pathological process associated with tumor progression and is considered to influence and promote the metastatic cascade. Characterized by loss of cell adhesion and apex base polarity, EMT enhances cell motility and metastasis. The key markers of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition are proteins characteristic of the epithelial phenotype, e.g., E-cadherin, cytokeratins, occludin, or desmoplakin, the concentration and activity of which are reduced during this process. On the other hand, as a result of acquiring the characteristics of mesenchymal cells, an increased amount of N-cadherin, vimentin, fibronectin, or vitronectin is observed. Importantly, epithelial cells undergo partial EMT where some of the cells show both epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics. The significant influence of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms is observed in the gene expression involved in EMT. Among the epigenetic modifications accompanying incorrect genetic reprogramming in cancer are changes in the level of DNA methylation within the CpG islands and posttranslational covalent changes of histone proteins. All observed modifications, which are stable but reversible changes, affect the level of gene expression leading to the development and progression of the disease, and consequently affect the uncontrolled growth of the population of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Nowak
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland;
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24
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Mieczkowska IK, Pantelaiou-Prokaki G, Prokakis E, Schmidt GE, Müller-Kirschbaum LC, Werner M, Sen M, Velychko T, Jannasch K, Dullin C, Napp J, Pantel K, Wikman H, Wiese M, Kramm CM, Alves F, Wegwitz F. Decreased PRC2 activity supports the survival of basal-like breast cancer cells to cytotoxic treatments. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1118. [PMID: 34845197 PMCID: PMC8630036 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04407-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer occurring in women but also rarely develops in men. Recent advances in early diagnosis and development of targeted therapies have greatly improved the survival rate of BC patients. However, the basal-like BC subtype (BLBC), largely overlapping with the triple-negative BC subtype (TNBC), lacks such drug targets and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies often remain the only treatment option. Thus, the development of resistance to cytotoxic therapies has fatal consequences. To assess the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms and their therapeutic potential increasing cytotoxic drug efficiency, we combined high-throughput RNA- and ChIP-sequencing analyses in BLBC cells. Tumor cells surviving chemotherapy upregulated transcriptional programs of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness. To our surprise, the same cells showed a pronounced reduction of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) activity via downregulation of its subunits Ezh2, Suz12, Rbbp7 and Mtf2. Mechanistically, loss of PRC2 activity leads to the de-repression of a set of genes through an epigenetic switch from repressive H3K27me3 to activating H3K27ac mark at regulatory regions. We identified Nfatc1 as an upregulated gene upon loss of PRC2 activity and directly implicated in the transcriptional changes happening upon survival to chemotherapy. Blocking NFATc1 activation reduced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, aggressiveness, and therapy resistance of BLBC cells. Our data demonstrate a previously unknown function of PRC2 maintaining low Nfatc1 expression levels and thereby repressing aggressiveness and therapy resistance in BLBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iga K. Mieczkowska
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Garyfallia Pantelaiou-Prokaki
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Evangelos Prokakis
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Geske E. Schmidt
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gastroenterology, GI-Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lukas C. Müller-Kirschbaum
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marcel Werner
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Madhobi Sen
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Taras Velychko
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Jannasch
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Dullin
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joanna Napp
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Klaus Pantel
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Harriet Wikman
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Wiese
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christof M. Kramm
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. .,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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25
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Brunty S, Clower L, Mitchell B, Fleshman T, Zgheib NB, Santanam N. Peritoneal Modulators of Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:793297. [PMID: 34900746 PMCID: PMC8655857 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.793297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the 4th largest cause of cancer death in women. Approximately 10-15% of women of childbearing age suffer from endometriosis. Endometriosis is defined by the growth and presence of endometrial tissue (lesions) outside of the uterus. The women with endometriosis also have an increased presence of peritoneal fluid (PF) that comprises of inflammatory cells, growth factors, cytokines/chemokines, etc. Epidemiological studies have shown that >3% of women with endometriosis develop ovarian cancer (low-grade serous or endometrioid types). Our hypothesis is that the PF from women with endometriosis induces transformative changes in the ovarian cells, leading to ovarian cancer development. PF from women with and without endometriosis was collected after IRB approval and patient consent. IOSE (human normal ovarian epithelial cells) and TOV-21G cells (human ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell line) were treated with various volumes of PF (no endometriosis or endometriosis) for 48 or 96 h and proliferation measured. Expression levels of epigenetic regulators and FoxP3, an inflammatory tumor suppressor, were determined. A Human Cancer Inflammation and Immunity Crosstalk RT2 Profiler PCR array was used to measure changes in cancer related genes in treated cells. Results showed increased growth of TOV-21G cells treated with PF from women with endometriosis versus without endometriosis and compared to IOSE cells. Endo PF treatment induced EZH2, H3K27me3, and FoxP3. The RT2 PCR array of TOV-21G cells treated with endo PF showed upregulation of various inflammatory genes (TLRs, Myd88, etc.). These studies indicate that PF from women with endometriosis can both proliferate and transform ovarian cells and hence this microenvironment plays a major mechanistic role in the progression of endometriosis to ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Brunty
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Lauren Clower
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Brenda Mitchell
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Taylor Fleshman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Nadim Bou Zgheib
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Nalini Santanam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
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26
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Zhao N, Powell RT, Yuan X, Bae G, Roarty KP, Stossi F, Strempfl M, Toneff MJ, Johnson HL, Mani SA, Jones P, Stephan CC, Rosen JM. Morphological screening of mesenchymal mammary tumor organoids to identify drugs that reverse epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4262. [PMID: 34253738 PMCID: PMC8275587 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24545-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in conferring stem cell properties and therapeutic resistance to cancer cells. Therefore, identification of drugs that can reprogram EMT may provide new therapeutic strategies. Here, we report that cells derived from claudin-low mammary tumors, a mesenchymal subtype of triple-negative breast cancer, exhibit a distinctive organoid structure with extended "spikes" in 3D matrices. Upon a miR-200 induced mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), the organoids switch to a smoother round morphology. Based on these observations, we developed a morphological screening method with accompanying analytical pipelines that leverage deep neural networks and nearest neighborhood classification to screen for EMT-reversing drugs. Through screening of a targeted epigenetic drug library, we identified multiple class I HDAC inhibitors and Bromodomain inhibitors that reverse EMT. These data support the use of morphological screening of mesenchymal mammary tumor organoids as a platform to identify drugs that reverse EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Reid T Powell
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xueying Yuan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Goeun Bae
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kevin P Roarty
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fabio Stossi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Integrated Microscopy Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Hannah L Johnson
- Integrated Microscopy Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sendurai A Mani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Philip Jones
- Institute of Applied Cancer Science (IACS), University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Clifford C Stephan
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Rosen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Liu QL, Luo M, Huang C, Chen HN, Zhou ZG. Epigenetic Regulation of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in the Cancer Metastatic Cascade: Implications for Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:657546. [PMID: 33996581 PMCID: PMC8117142 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.657546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the end stage of cancer progression and the direct cause of most cancer-related deaths. The spreading of cancer cells from the primary site to distant organs is a multistep process known as the metastatic cascade, including local invasion, intravasation, survival in the circulation, extravasation, and colonization. Each of these steps is driven by the acquisition of genetic and/or epigenetic alterations within cancer cells, leading to subsequent transformation of metastatic cells. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cellular process mediating the conversion of cell from epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype, and its reverse transformation, termed mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET), together endow metastatic cells with traits needed to generate overt metastases in different scenarios. The dynamic shift between these two phenotypes and their transitional state, termed partial EMT, emphasizes the plasticity of EMT. Recent advances attributed this plasticity to epigenetic regulation, which has implications for the therapeutic targeting of cancer metastasis. In this review, we will discuss the association between epigenetic events and the multifaceted nature of EMT, which may provide insights into the steps of the cancer metastatic cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Luo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Maochao Luo
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Canhua Huang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Hai-Ning Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Zong-Guang Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
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28
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Özel M, Kilic E, Baskol M, Akalın H, Baskol G. The Effect of EZH2 Inhibition through DZNep on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Mechanism. Cell Reprogram 2021; 23:139-148. [PMID: 33861639 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2020.0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the molecular pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is uncertain, it is known that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism and epigenetic changes have an important role. This study was focused on evaluating the relationship of 3-Deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) with the EMT mechanism, which is a histone methyltransferase inhibitor on HCC and is also known as an enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitor. Cell viability of HepG2 cells (HCC cell line) assessed for DZNep over 72 hours with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Additionally, colony-forming assay, apoptosis assay, RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were performed to see the effect of DZNep on HepG2 cells. DZNep reduced cell proliferation for 72 hours, also significantly reduced colony formation in addition it increased the total apoptosis. DZNep on EZH2, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin (Vim) gene expressions was given different results by either decreasing or increasing the expressions. In this study, we observed a positive effect of DZNep on apoptosis and TIMP3 expression level and decreased colony formation. However, it gave complicated results with the level of gene expression E-cadherin and TIMP2, increase the level of Vim and MMP2 expression. Therefore, we think that further studies are necessary to clarify the role of DZNep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Özel
- Department of Biochemistry, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.,Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Eser Kilic
- Department of Biochemistry, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Mevlüt Baskol
- Department of Gastroenterology and Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Hilal Akalın
- Department of Genetics, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Gülden Baskol
- Department of Biochemistry, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.,Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
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29
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Ramarao-Milne P, Kondrashova O, Barry S, Hooper JD, Lee JS, Waddell N. Histone Modifying Enzymes in Gynaecological Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040816. [PMID: 33669182 PMCID: PMC7919659 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Epigenetics is a process that allows genetic control, without the involvement of sequence changes to DNA or genes. In cancer, epigenetics is a key event in tumour development that can alter the expression of cancer driver genes and result in genomic instability. Due to the critical role of epigenetics in malignant transformation, therapies that target these processes have been developed to treat cancer. Here, we provide a summary of the epigenetic changes that have been described in a variety of gynaecological cancers. We then highlight how these changes are being targeted in preclinical models and clinical trials for gynaecological cancers. Abstract Genetic and epigenetic factors contribute to the development of cancer. Epigenetic dysregulation is common in gynaecological cancers and includes altered methylation at CpG islands in gene promoter regions, global demethylation that leads to genome instability and histone modifications. Histones are a major determinant of chromosomal conformation and stability, and unlike DNA methylation, which is generally associated with gene silencing, are amenable to post-translational modifications that induce facultative chromatin regions, or condensed transcriptionally silent regions that decondense resulting in global alteration of gene expression. In comparison, other components, crucial to the manipulation of chromatin dynamics, such as histone modifying enzymes, are not as well-studied. Inhibitors targeting DNA modifying enzymes, particularly histone modifying enzymes represent a potential cancer treatment. Due to the ability of epigenetic therapies to target multiple pathways simultaneously, tumours with complex mutational landscapes affected by multiple driver mutations may be most amenable to this type of inhibitor. Interrogation of the actionable landscape of different gynaecological cancer types has revealed that some patients have biomarkers which indicate potential sensitivity to epigenetic inhibitors. In this review we describe the role of epigenetics in gynaecological cancers and highlight how it may exploited for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Ramarao-Milne
- Medical Genomics Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (P.R.-M.); (O.K.); (N.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Olga Kondrashova
- Medical Genomics Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (P.R.-M.); (O.K.); (N.W.)
| | - Sinead Barry
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Mater Hospital Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia;
| | - John D. Hooper
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia;
| | - Jason S. Lee
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
- Epigenetics and Disease Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-7-38453951
| | - Nicola Waddell
- Medical Genomics Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (P.R.-M.); (O.K.); (N.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
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Sun Y, Wu J, Dong X, Zhang J, Meng C, Liu G. MicroRNA-506-3p increases the response to PARP inhibitors and cisplatin by targeting EZH2/β-catenin in serous ovarian cancers. Transl Oncol 2021; 14:100987. [PMID: 33360300 PMCID: PMC7770486 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemo-resistance is an important barrier to effective treatment of ovarian cancer. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are currently promising targeted drugs used to treat BRCA-mutant ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer patients with BRCA 1/2 mutations appear to benefit better from PARP inhibitors and chemotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms underlying PARP inhibitors and chemotherapy resistance is urgently needed. There is increasing evidence that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in drug resistance. MiR-506-3p is an effective inhibitor of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and can enhance chemotherapy and olaparib response in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGS-OvCa). Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) is considered as a direct target of miR-506-3p. The silencing of EZH2 mimics the inhibitory effects of miR-506-3p on chemo-resistance and olaparib response. Rescue of EZH2 prevented the functions of miR-506-3p. Moreover, EZH2 activates the β-catenin pathway. MiR-506-3p overexpression decreased the level of β-catenin, and the sensitivity to olaparib and cisplatin mediated by miR-506-3p was partially reversed by regulating β-catenin expression in ovarian cancer. Our results suggest that miR-506-3p increases response to PARP inhibitors and cisplatin in serous ovarian cancer by targeting EZH2/β-catenin signal pathway, which opens the possibility of using miR-506-3p overexpression as a potential therapeutic for ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Sun
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Xiaoying Dong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Jingzi Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Chao Meng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Guoyan Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
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Hentrich T, Koch A, Weber N, Kilzheimer A, Maia A, Burkhardt S, Rall K, Casadei N, Kohlbacher O, Riess O, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Brucker SY. The Endometrial Transcription Landscape of MRKH Syndrome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:572281. [PMID: 33072755 PMCID: PMC7542331 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.572281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome (OMIM 277000) is characterized by agenesis of the uterus and upper part of the vagina in females with normal ovarian function. While genetic causes have been identified for a small subset of patients and epigenetic mechanisms presumably contribute to the pathogenic unfolding, too, the etiology of the syndrome has remained largely enigmatic. A comprehensive understanding of gene activity in the context of the disease is crucial to identify etiological components and their potential interplay. So far, this understanding is lacking, primarily due to the scarcity of samples and suitable tissue. In order to close this gap, we profiled endometrial tissue of uterus rudiments in a large cohort of MRKH patients using RNA-seq and thereby provide a genome-wide view on the altered transcription landscape of the MRKH syndrome. Differential and co-expression analyses of the data identified cellular processes and candidate genes that converge on a core network of interconnected regulators that emerge as pivotal for the perturbed expression space. With these results and browsable access to the rich data through an online tool we seek to accelerate research to unravel the underlying biology of the syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hentrich
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - André Koch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nico Weber
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Kilzheimer
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ana Maia
- Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Burkhardt
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Rall
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Casadei
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Kohlbacher
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute for Translational Bioinformatics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Biomolecular Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT), Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Sara Yvonne Brucker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT), Tübingen, Germany
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Kong WQ, Liang JJ, Du J, Ye ZX, Gao P, Liang YL. Long Noncoding RNA DLX6-AS1 Regulates the Growth and Aggressiveness of Colorectal Cancer Cells Via Mediating miR-26a/EZH2 Axis. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2020; 36:753-764. [PMID: 32379493 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2020.3589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To understand the regulation of long noncoding RNA DLX6-AS1-mediated miR-26a/EZH2 axis in the growth of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Methods: The expression of DLX6-AS1, miR-26a, and EZH2 was detected in CRC tissues by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The CRC HT-29 cell line was selected for transfection and subjected to observe the growth by MTT and colony formation assays, cell cycle by flow cytometry, and migration and invasion by wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Finally, the expression of cycle- and metastasis-related proteins was detected by western blotting. Results: DLX6-AS1 and EZH2 were increased, with a decreased miR-26a in CRC tissues, showing significant negative correlations between DLX6-AS1 and miR-26a, and between miR-26a and EZH2. CRC patients at advanced stage or with lymphatic metastasis had higher DLX6-AS1 expression. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay uncovered the targeting correlations between DLX6-AS1 and miR-26a, or miR-26a and EZH2. After transfection of DLX6-AS1 siRNA or EZH2 siRNA, the growth and metastasis of CRC cells were suppressed, arresting the cells in G0/G1 phase, with a magnificent reduction in the ratio of cells in S phase or G2/M phase; meanwhile, Cyclin D1, Vimentin, and MMP9 expressions decreased evidently, whereas E-cadherin expression was upregulated. Changes above were fully reversed after transfection of miR-26a inhibitor, whereas si-EZH2 transfection abolished the positive role of miR-26a inhibitor on growth of CRC cells. Conclusion: Silencing DLX6-AS1 may block the malignant features of CRC cells by inhibiting the expression of EZH2 through upregulation of miR-26a. Thus, it is critical to the development and progression of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Qi Kong
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-Jing Liang
- Medical Department of Hebei University, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Jing Du
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Zhen-Xiong Ye
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Gao
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yu-Long Liang
- Department of General Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Lin YT, Wu KJ. Epigenetic regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition: focusing on hypoxia and TGF-β signaling. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:39. [PMID: 32114978 PMCID: PMC7050137 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00632-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important process triggered during cancer metastasis. Regulation of EMT is mostly initiated by outside signalling, including TGF-β, growth factors, Notch ligand, Wnt, and hypoxia. Many signalling pathways have been delineated to explain the molecular mechanisms of EMT. In this review, we will focus on the epigenetic regulation of two critical EMT signalling pathways: hypoxia and TGF-β. For hypoxia, hypoxia-induced EMT is mediated by the interplay between chromatin modifiers histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) and WDR5 coupled with the presence of histone 3 lysine 4 acetylation (H3K4Ac) mark that labels the promoter regions of various traditional EMT marker genes (e.g. CDH1, VIM). Recently identified new hypoxia-induced EMT markers belong to transcription factors (e.g. SMO, GLI1) that mediate EMT themselves. For TGF-β-induced ΕΜΤ, global chromatin changes, removal of a histone variant (H2A.Z), and new chromatin modifiers (e.g. UTX, Rad21, PRMT5, RbBP5, etc) are identified to be crucial for the regulation of both EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs) and EMT markers (EMT-Ms). The epigenetic mechanisms utilized in these two pathways may serve as good model systems for other signalling pathways and also provide new potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueh-Te Lin
- Cancer Genome Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Gueishan Dist., Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Kou-Juey Wu
- Cancer Genome Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Gueishan Dist., Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan. .,Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan. .,Inst. of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan.
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Meng X, Shi Y, Xiang X, Li C, Ge X, Pan K, Liang Y. Influence of miR-101 on proliferation of liver cancer cells through the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2019; 19:1310-1316. [PMID: 31966062 PMCID: PMC6956322 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.11210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of miR-101 in carcinoma and para-carcinoma tissues of patients with liver cancer was studied. The carcinoma and para-carcinoma tissues of 67 patients with liver cancer treated in Chinese PLA General Hospital were collected, and the expression of miR-101 in carcinoma and para-carcinoma tissues was detected via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The liver cancer HepG2 cell line was transfected with miR-101 mimics. Moreover, the influence of miR-101 overexpression on the proliferation of liver cancer cells was detected via Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and colony formation assay. The proportion of Ki67-positive cells in the control group (NC group) and miR-101 overexpression group (miR-101 mimics group) was detected via Ki67 staining. The proportions of cells were detected via flow cytometry, and the predicted target gene Zeste2 enhancer (EZH2) was further verified via luciferase reporter gene assay and western blotting. The miR-101 overexpression significantly inhibited the colony formation and proliferation ability of liver cancer cells (P<0.05). The proportion of Ki67-positive cells in liver cancer cells was lower in miR-101 mimics group (P<0.05). The proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase was increased in miR-101 mimics group compared with that in NC group (P<0.05). The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation level in liver cancer cells was obviously suppressed in miR-101 mimics group (P<0.05). Therefore, the expression level of miR-101 declines in liver cancer tissues, and the miR-101 overexpression can inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cells. The inhibitory effect of miR-101 on the proliferation of liver cancer cells may be related to its inhibition on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signaling pathway, and the inhibition on the MAPK/ERK may be mediated by the targeted inhibition of miR-101 on EZH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Meng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
| | - Yong Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
| | - Xin Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
| | - Chonghui Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
| | - Xinlan Ge
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
| | - Ke Pan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
| | - Yurong Liang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
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35
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Duan S, Chan WK, Oman A, Basile DP, Alvira CM, Buxton IL, Iosef C. NF-κB/NKILA signaling modulates the anti-cancerous effects of EZH2 inhibition. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 23:6182-6192. [PMID: 31282094 PMCID: PMC6714229 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A wealth of evidence supports the broad therapeutic potential of NF-κB and EZH2 inhibitors as adjuvants for breast cancer treatment. We contribute to this knowledge by elucidating, for the first time, unique regulatory crosstalk between EZH2, NF-κB and the NF-κB interacting long non-coding RNA (NKILA). We define a novel signaling loop encompassing canonical and non-canonical actions of EZH2 on the regulation of NF-κB/NKILA homeostasis, with relevance to breast cancer treatment. We applied a respective silencing approach in non-transformed breast epithelial cells, triple negative MDA-MB-231 cells and hormone responsive MCF-7 cells, and measured changes in EZH2/NF-κB/NKILA levels to confirm their interdependence. We demonstrate cell line-specific fluctuations in these factors that functionally contribute to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) remodelling and cell fate response. EZH2 inhibition attenuates MDA-MB-231 cell motility and CDK4-mediated MCF-7 cell cycle regulation, while inducing global H3K27 methylation and an EMT phenotype in non-transformed cells. Notably, these events are mediated by a cell-context dependent gain or loss of NKILA and NF-κB. Depletion of NF-κB in non-transformed cells enhances their sensitivity to growth factor signaling and suggests a role for the host microenvironment milieu in regulating EZH2/NF-κB/NKILA homeostasis. Taken together, this knowledge critically informs the delivery and assessment of EZH2 inhibitors in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzann Duan
- University of Nevada Reno, School of MedicineRenoNevada
| | | | - Andrew Oman
- University of Nevada Reno, School of MedicineRenoNevada
| | | | | | | | - Cristiana Iosef
- University of Nevada Reno, School of MedicineRenoNevada
- Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordCalifornia
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Chung VY, Tan TZ, Ye J, Huang RL, Lai HC, Kappei D, Wollmann H, Guccione E, Huang RYJ. The role of GRHL2 and epigenetic remodeling in epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in ovarian cancer cells. Commun Biol 2019; 2:272. [PMID: 31372511 PMCID: PMC6656769 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0506-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells exhibit phenotypic plasticity during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) involving intermediate states. To study genome-wide epigenetic remodeling associated with EMT plasticity, we integrate the analyses of DNA methylation, ChIP-sequencing of five histone marks (H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K27Ac, H3K27me3 and H3K9me3) and transcriptome profiling performed on ovarian cancer cells with different epithelial/mesenchymal states and on a knockdown model of EMT suppressor Grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2). We have identified differentially methylated CpG sites associated with EMT, found at promoters of epithelial genes and GRHL2 binding sites. GRHL2 knockdown results in CpG methylation gain and nucleosomal remodeling (reduction in permissive marks H3K4me3 and H3K27ac; elevated repressive mark H3K27me3), resembling the changes observed across progressive EMT states. Epigenetic-modifying agents such as 5-azacitidine, GSK126 and mocetinostat further reveal cell state-dependent plasticity upon GRHL2 overexpression. Overall, we demonstrate that epithelial genes are subject to epigenetic control during intermediate phases of EMT/MET involving GRHL2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vin Yee Chung
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599 Singapore
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599 Singapore
| | - Jieru Ye
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599 Singapore
| | - Rui-Lan Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, 11031 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Cheng Lai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, 11031 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Dennis Kappei
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599 Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596 Singapore
| | - Heike Wollmann
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
| | - Ruby Yun-Ju Huang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599 Singapore
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 10051 Taipei, Taiwan
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37
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Jia Y, Vong JSL, Asafova A, Garvalov BK, Caputo L, Cordero J, Singh A, Boettger T, Günther S, Fink L, Acker T, Barreto G, Seeger W, Braun T, Savai R, Dobreva G. Lamin B1 loss promotes lung cancer development and metastasis by epigenetic derepression of RET. J Exp Med 2019; 216:1377-1395. [PMID: 31015297 PMCID: PMC6547854 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20181394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although abnormal nuclear structure is an important criterion for cancer diagnostics, remarkably little is known about its relationship to tumor development. Here we report that loss of lamin B1, a determinant of nuclear architecture, plays a key role in lung cancer. We found that lamin B1 levels were reduced in lung cancer patients. Lamin B1 silencing in lung epithelial cells promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell migration, tumor growth, and metastasis. Mechanistically, we show that lamin B1 recruits the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) to alter the H3K27me3 landscape and repress genes involved in cell migration and signaling. In particular, epigenetic derepression of the RET proto-oncogene by loss of PRC2 recruitment, and activation of the RET/p38 signaling axis, play a crucial role in mediating the malignant phenotype upon lamin B1 disruption. Importantly, loss of a single lamin B1 allele induced spontaneous lung tumor formation and RET activation. Thus, lamin B1 acts as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer, linking aberrant nuclear structure and epigenetic patterning with malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhan Jia
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM) and European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Joaquim Si-Long Vong
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Alina Asafova
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Boyan K Garvalov
- Microvascular Biology and Pathobiology, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Luca Caputo
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Julio Cordero
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM) and European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anshu Singh
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM) and European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Thomas Boettger
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Stefan Günther
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Ludger Fink
- Institute of Pathology and Cytology, Überregionale Gemeinschaftspraxis für Pathologie (ÜGP), Wetzlar, Germany
| | - Till Acker
- Institute of Neuropathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Guillermo Barreto
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Werner Seeger
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Braun
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Rajkumar Savai
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Gergana Dobreva
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM) and European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty, J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Jones BA, Varambally S, Arend RC. Histone Methyltransferase EZH2: A Therapeutic Target for Ovarian Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2019; 17:591-602. [PMID: 29726819 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females in the United States. There were an estimated 22,440 new cases and 14,080 deaths due to ovarian cancer in 2017. Most patients present with advanced-stage disease, revealing the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies targeting pathways of tumorigenesis and chemotherapy resistance. While multiple genomic changes contribute to the progression of this aggressive disease, it has become increasingly evident that epigenetic events play a pivotal role in ovarian cancer development. One of the well-studied epigenetic modifiers, the histone methyltransferase EZH2, is a member of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and is commonly involved in transcriptional repression. EZH2 is the enzymatic catalytic subunit of the PRC2 complex that can alter gene expression by trimethylating lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27). In ovarian cancer, EZH2 is commonly overexpressed and therefore potentially serves as an effective therapeutic target. Multiple small-molecule inhibitors are being developed to target EZH2, which are now in clinical trials. Thus, in this review, we highlight the progress made in EZH2-related research in ovarian cancer and discuss the potential utility of targeting EZH2 with available small-molecule inhibitors for ovarian cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(3); 591-602. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayley A Jones
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama
| | | | - Rebecca C Arend
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
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Epigenetic Regulation of EMT (Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition) and Tumor Aggressiveness: A View on Paradoxical Roles of KDM6B and EZH2. EPIGENOMES 2018; 3:epigenomes3010001. [PMID: 34991274 PMCID: PMC8594212 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes3010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
EMT (epithelial to mesenchymal transition) is a plastic phenomenon involved in metastasis formation. Its plasticity is conferred in a great part by its epigenetic regulation. It has been reported that the trimethylation of lysine 27 histone H3 (H3K27me3) was a master regulator of EMT through two antagonist enzymes that regulate this mark, the methyltransferase EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) and the lysine demethylase KDM6B (lysine femethylase 6B). Here we report that EZH2 and KDM6B are overexpressed in numerous cancers and involved in the aggressive phenotype and EMT in various cell lines by regulating a specific subset of genes. The first paradoxical role of these enzymes is that they are antagonistic, but both involved in cancer aggressiveness and EMT. The second paradoxical role of EZH2 and KDM6B during EMT and cancer aggressiveness is that they are also inactivated or under-expressed in some cancer types and linked to epithelial phenotypes in other cancer cell lines. We also report that new cancer therapeutic strategies are targeting KDM6B and EZH2, but the specificity of these treatments may be increased by learning more about the mechanisms of action of these enzymes and their specific partners or target genes in different cancer types.
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40
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Mesothelial to mesenchyme transition as a major developmental and pathological player in trunk organs and their cavities. Commun Biol 2018; 1:170. [PMID: 30345394 PMCID: PMC6191446 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0180-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The internal organs embedded in the cavities are lined by an epithelial monolayer termed the mesothelium. The mesothelium is increasingly implicated in driving various internal organ pathologies, as many of the normal embryonic developmental pathways acting in mesothelial cells, such as those regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, also drive disease progression in adult life. Here, we summarize observations from different animal models and organ systems that collectively point toward a central role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in driving tissue fibrosis, acute scarring, and cancer metastasis. Thus, drugs targeting pathways of mesothelium’s transition may have broad therapeutic benefits in patients suffering from these diseases. Tim Koopmans and Yuval Rinkevich review recent findings linking the mesothelium’s embryonic programs that drive epithelial-to-mesenchyme transition with adult pathologies, such as fibrosis, acute scarring, and cancer metastasis. They highlight new avenues for drug development that would target pathways of the mesothelium’s mesenchymal transition.
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Wu X, Xiao J, Zhao C, Zhao C, Han Z, Wang F, Yang Y, Jiang Y, Fang F. Claudin1 promotes the proliferation, invasion and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by upregulating the expression and nuclear entry of β-catenin. Exp Ther Med 2018; 16:3445-3451. [PMID: 30233694 PMCID: PMC6143911 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to measure the expression of Claudin (CLDN) 1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to determine its biological function and mechanism of action. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to measure the expression of CLDN1 mRNA and protein, respectively, in the immortalized human nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line NP69 and NPC-TW01 cells. Subsequently, small interfering RNA against CLDN1 and the LV-GFP-PURO-CLDN1 lentivirus were transfected into NPC-TW01 cells. Western blotting was used to determine the effects of CLDN1 down- and upregulation on the expression of the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers E-cadherin and vimentin. In addition, the effect of CLDN1 on the expression of β-Catenin was determined. The results demonstrated that levels of CLDN1 mRNA and protein in NPC cells were significantly higher than in NP69 cells. Furthermore, the downregulation of CLDN1 inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of NPC-TW01 cells. The results of western blotting demonstrated that the downregulation of CLDN1 resulted in the upregulation of E-cadherin and inhibition of vimentin in NPC-TW01 cells. By contrast, the overexpression of CLDN1 resulted in the downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of vimentin in NPC-TW01 cells. The downregulation of β-catenin attenuated the cancer-promoting effect of CLDN1 on NPC-TW01 cells, whereas the upregulation of β-catenin reversed the tumor-suppressing effect of CLDN1 downregulation on NPC-TW01 cells. The results of the present study therefore demonstrate that CLDN1 expression is elevated in NPC cells. As an oncogene, CLDN1 promotes the proliferation, invasion and migration of NPC cells by upregulating the expression and nuclear entry of β-catenin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wu
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Jianghong Xiao
- Department of Radiation Physics, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Chong Zhao
- Department of Radiotherapy, Tumor Hospital of Chengdu, The Seventh People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Chengjian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Medical School, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Zhongcheng Han
- Department of Oncology, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Hospital, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830001, P.R. China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yuqiong Yang
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Fang Fang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
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Chromatin dynamics at the core of kidney fibrosis. Matrix Biol 2018; 68-69:194-229. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2018.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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43
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44
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Sun S, Zhao S, Yang Q, Wang W, Cai E, Wen Y, Yu L, Wang Z, Cai J. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 promotes cisplatin resistance by reducing cellular platinum accumulation. Cancer Sci 2018; 109:1853-1864. [PMID: 29630768 PMCID: PMC5989839 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), which is overexpressed in a wide range of tumors, contributes to ovarian cancer malignancy in several different ways. We aimed to illustrate the role of EZH2 in ovarian cancer cisplatin resistance and to identify possible underlying mechanisms of this role that may provide a rationale for targeting EZH2 in cancer treatment. Here, we present data indicating that EZH2 overexpression is associated with cisplatin resistance and intracellular platinum drug accumulation. Measurements of EZH2 in 84 ovarian cancer patients suggested that patients with high EZH2 levels tend to have poor responses to cisplatin. The EZH2 level progressively increased in cells receiving repeated cisplatin exposure. Downregulation of EZH2 not only sensitized cellular reactions to cisplatin and increased cellular platinum accumulation when cells were exposed to both cisplatin and BODIPY-Pt (a fluorescent cisplatin complex) but also protected copper transporter 1, a high-affinity copper transporter closely related to cisplatin resistance, from cisplatin-induced proteasomal degradation. Overall, these findings identify a new mechanism that expands the unrecognized role of EZH2 in ovarian cancer cisplatin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Simei Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenwen Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - E Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiping Wen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lili Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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45
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Giancotti V, Bergamin N, Cataldi P, Rizzi C. Epigenetic Contribution of High-Mobility Group A Proteins to Stem Cell Properties. Int J Cell Biol 2018; 2018:3698078. [PMID: 29853899 PMCID: PMC5941823 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3698078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
High-mobility group A (HMGA) proteins have been examined to understand their participation as structural epigenetic chromatin factors that confer stem-like properties to embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and cancer stem cells (CSCs). The function of HMGA was evaluated in conjunction with that of other epigenetic factors such as histones and microRNAs (miRs), taking into consideration the posttranscriptional modifications (PTMs) of histones (acetylation and methylation) and DNA methylation. HMGA proteins were coordinated or associated with histone and DNA modification and the expression of the factors related to pluripotency. CSCs showed remarkable differences compared with ESCs and iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Giancotti
- Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Trieste Proteine Ricerche, Palmanova, Udine, Italy
| | - Natascha Bergamin
- Division of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Udine, Italy
| | - Palmina Cataldi
- Division of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Udine, Italy
| | - Claudio Rizzi
- Division of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Udine, Italy
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46
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Özeş AR, Pulliam N, Ertosun MG, Yılmaz Ö, Tang J, Çopuroğlu E, Matei D, Özeş ON, Nephew KP. Protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation regulates STAT3 activation and oncogenic EZH2 activity. Oncogene 2018; 37:3589-3600. [PMID: 29576612 PMCID: PMC6023775 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0218-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) member enhancer of zeste homologue 2
(EZH2) trimethylates histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3), alters chromatin structure
and contributes to epigenetic regulation of gene expression in normal and
disease processes. Phosphorylation of EZH2 augmented EZH2 oncogenic activity in
cancer but observations have been limited to serine 21
(S21) residue by protein kinase B.
In addition, phosphorylation of the evolutionarily conserved T372 motif of EZH2
by p38 resulted in EZH2 interaction with Ying Yang 1 and promoted muscle stem
cell differentiation. In the present study, we used epithelial ovarian cancer
(OC) cells as a model to demonstrate that phosphorylation of EZH2 at T372 by
protein kinase A (PKA) induced a dominant-negative EZH2 phenotype, inhibited OC
cell proliferation and migration in vitro and decreased ovarian
xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Phosphorylation of T372 by PKA
enhanced the interaction between EZH2 and signal transducer and activator of
transcription 3 (STAT3), and STAT3 binding to pT372-EZH2 reduced cellular levels
of pSTAT3 and downregulated interleukin 6 receptor expression in OC.
Furthermore, PKA-mediated pT372-EZH2 decreased ATP levels and altered
mitochondrial gene expression, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and
reduced OC cell growth. These findings demonstrate that PKA-mediated T372
phosphorylation reduces oncogenic EZH2 activity and reveal a novel role for
pT372 in regulating EZH2 in OC and possibly other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali R Özeş
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Sciences, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Nick Pulliam
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Sciences, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Mustafa G Ertosun
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Özlem Yılmaz
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Jessica Tang
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Sciences, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Ece Çopuroğlu
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Daniela Matei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Osman N Özeş
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
| | - Kenneth P Nephew
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. .,Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Sciences, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. .,Departments of Cellular and Integrative Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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47
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Martínez-Canales S, López de Rodas M, Nuncia-Cantarero M, Páez R, Amir E, Győrffy B, Pandiella A, Galán-Moya EM, Ocaña A. Functional transcriptomic annotation and protein-protein interaction analysis identify EZH2 and UBE2C as key upregulated proteins in ovarian cancer. Cancer Med 2018; 7:1896-1907. [PMID: 29575713 PMCID: PMC5943485 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although early stage ovarian cancer is in most cases a curable disease, some patients relapse even with appropriate adjuvant treatment. Therefore, the identification of patient and tumor characteristics to better stratify risk and guide rational drug development is desirable. Using transcriptomic functional annotation followed by protein-protein interacting (PPI) network analyses, we identified functions that were upregulated and associated with detrimental outcome in patients with early stage ovarian cancer. Some of the identified functions included cell cycle, cell division, signal transduction/protein modification, cellular response to extracellular stimuli or transcription regulation, among others. Genes within these functions included AURKA, AURKB, CDK1, BIRC5, or CHEK1 among others. Of note, the histone-lysine N-methyltransferase (EZH2) and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) genes were found to be upregulated and amplified in 10% and 6% of tumors, respectively. Of note, EZH2 and UBE2C were identified as principal interacting proteins of druggable networks. In conclusion, we describe a set of genes overexpressed in ovarian cancer with potential for therapeutic intervention including EZH2 and UBE2C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Martínez-Canales
- Translational Research Unit and Translational Oncology Laboratory, Albacete University Hospital and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Castilla-La Mancha University (CRIB-UCLM), Albacete, Spain
| | - Miguel López de Rodas
- Translational Research Unit and Translational Oncology Laboratory, Albacete University Hospital and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Castilla-La Mancha University (CRIB-UCLM), Albacete, Spain
| | - Miriam Nuncia-Cantarero
- Translational Research Unit and Translational Oncology Laboratory, Albacete University Hospital and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Castilla-La Mancha University (CRIB-UCLM), Albacete, Spain
| | - Raquel Páez
- Translational Research Unit and Translational Oncology Laboratory, Albacete University Hospital and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Castilla-La Mancha University (CRIB-UCLM), Albacete, Spain
| | - Eitan Amir
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Eva María Galán-Moya
- Translational Research Unit and Translational Oncology Laboratory, Albacete University Hospital and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Castilla-La Mancha University (CRIB-UCLM), Albacete, Spain
| | - Alberto Ocaña
- Translational Research Unit and Translational Oncology Laboratory, Albacete University Hospital and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Castilla-La Mancha University (CRIB-UCLM), Albacete, Spain.,Cancer Research Center and CIBERONC, CSIC, Salamanca, Spain
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48
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Gan L, Xu M, Hua R, Tan C, Zhang J, Gong Y, Wu Z, Weng W, Sheng W, Guo W. The polycomb group protein EZH2 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and pluripotent phenotype of gastric cancer cells by binding to PTEN promoter. J Hematol Oncol 2018; 11:9. [PMID: 29335012 PMCID: PMC5769437 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-017-0547-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The influences of oncogenic Ezh2 on the progression and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) and the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here, we aimed at investigating clinicopathological significance of Ezh2 in GC and the mechanisms underlying its function in GC development. METHODS The expression level of Ezh2 was determined by qRT-PCR, immunoblot, and immunohistochemistry analysis in 156 pairs of GC tissues and adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues. The biological functions of Ezh2 were assessed by in vitro and in vivo functional experiments. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), luciferase, and Western blotting analyses were utilized to identify the relationship between Ezh2 and the PTEN/Akt signaling. RESULTS The expression of Ezh2 was higher in gastric cancer tissues in comparison with para-nontumorous epithelium. High expression of Ezh2 was associated with more aggressive biological behavior and poor prognosis in GC. In vitro studies indicated that Ezh2 promoted GC cells' proliferation and clonogenicity. Besides, Ezh2 led to the acquisition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype of GC cells and enhanced GC cell migration and invasion capacity. In particular, Ezh2 strengthened sphere-forming capacity of GC cells, indicating its role in the enrichment of GC stem cells. Furthermore, we found that PTEN/Akt signaling contributed to the effects of Ezh2 on cancer stem cells (CSC) and EMT phenotype in GC cells, and blocking PTEN signaling significantly rescued the effects of Ezh2. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, Ezh2 has a central role in regulating diverse aspects of the pathogenesis of GC in part by involving PTEN/Akt signaling, indicating that it could be an independent prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Gan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Midie Xu
- Department of Pathology and tissue bank, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ruixi Hua
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Cong Tan
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jieyun Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yiwei Gong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhenhua Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weiwei Weng
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weiqi Sheng
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weijian Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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49
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Wu Y, Zhang Z, Cenciarini ME, Proietti CJ, Amasino M, Hong T, Yang M, Liao Y, Chiang HC, Kaklamani VG, Jeselsohn R, Vadlamudi RK, Huang THM, Li R, De Angelis C, Fu X, Elizalde PV, Schiff R, Brown M, Xu K. Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer Is Regulated by the EZH2-ERα-GREB1 Transcriptional Axis. Cancer Res 2017; 78:671-684. [PMID: 29212856 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to cancer treatment can be driven by epigenetic reprogramming of specific transcriptomes in favor of the refractory phenotypes. Here we discover that tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer is driven by a regulatory axis consisting of a master transcription factor, its cofactor, and an epigenetic regulator. The oncogenic histone methyltransferase EZH2 conferred tamoxifen resistance by silencing the expression of the estrogen receptor α (ERα) cofactor GREB1. In clinical specimens, induction of DNA methylation of a particular CpG-enriched region at the GREB1 promoter negatively correlated with GREB1 levels and cell sensitivity to endocrine agents. GREB1 also ensured proper cellular reactions to different ligands by recruiting distinct sets of ERα cofactors to cis-regulatory elements, which explains the contradictory biological effects of GREB1 on breast cancer cell growth in response to estrogen or antiestrogen. In refractory cells, EZH2-dependent repression of GREB1 triggered chromatin reallocation of ERα coregulators, converting the antiestrogen into an agonist. In clinical specimens from patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen treatment, expression levels of EZH2 and GREB1 were correlated negatively, and taken together better predicted patient responses to endocrine therapy. Overall, our work suggests a new strategy to overcome endocrine resistance in metastatic breast cancer by targeting a particular epigenetic program.Significance: This study suggests a new strategy to overcome endocrine resistance in metastatic breast cancer by targeting a particular epigenetic program defined within. Cancer Res; 78(3); 671-84. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanming Wu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Zhao Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Mauro E Cenciarini
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia J Proietti
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matias Amasino
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tao Hong
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Yiji Liao
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Huai-Chin Chiang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Cancer Therapy & Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Virginia G Kaklamani
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Breast Cancer Program, Cancer Therapy & Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Rinath Jeselsohn
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ratna K Vadlamudi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Therapy & Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Tim Hui-Ming Huang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Cancer Therapy & Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Cancer Therapy & Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Carmine De Angelis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Xiaoyong Fu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Patricia V Elizalde
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rachel Schiff
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.,Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Myles Brown
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kexin Xu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. .,Cancer Therapy & Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
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50
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EZH2 Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs): Diagnostic and Prognostic Role in 10 Solid Tumor Types. EPIGENOMES 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes1030018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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