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Jin X, Wang Y, Chen J, Niu M, Yang Y, Zhang Q, Bao G. Novel dual-targeting inhibitors of NSD2 and HDAC2 for the treatment of liver cancer: structure-based virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulation, and in vitro and in vivo biological activity evaluations. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2024; 39:2289355. [PMID: 38059332 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2289355] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer exhibits a high degree of heterogeneity and involves intricate mechanisms. Recent research has revealed the significant role of histone lysine methylation and acetylation in the epigenetic regulation of liver cancer development. In this study, five inhibitors capable of targeting both histone lysine methyltransferase nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2 (NSD2) and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) were identified using a structure-based virtual screening approach. Notably, DT-NH-1 displayed a potent inhibition of NSD2 (IC50 = 0.08 ± 0.03 μM) and HDAC2 (IC50 = 5.24 ± 0.87 nM). DT-NH-1 also demonstrated a strong anti-proliferative activity against various liver cancer cell lines, particularly HepG2 cells, and exhibited a high level of biological safety. In an experimental xenograft model involving HepG2 cells, DT-NH-1 showed a significant reduction in tumour growth. Consequently, these findings indicate that DT-NH-1 will be a promising lead compound for the treatment of liver cancer with epigenetic dual-target inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Miaomiao Niu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoxuan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangyu Bao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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2
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Zhang X, Yuan Y, Wang X, Wang H, Zhang L, He J. CircWHSC1 (CircNSD2): A Novel Circular RNA in Multiple Cancers. Clin Med Insights Oncol 2024; 18:11795549241254781. [PMID: 38855031 PMCID: PMC11159554 DOI: 10.1177/11795549241254781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) that possesses a unique single-stranded circular structure. They are primarily formed through alternative splicing of pre-mRNA (messenger RNA). The primary biological function of circRNAs is to regulate gene expression at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Recent studies have increasingly demonstrated a close association between the dysregulation of circRNAs and the progression of diverse cancers, where they can function as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. circWHSC1 (circNSD2) is a circular ncRNA that originates from the first 2 exons of the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome candidate gene (WHSC1). As Chen 2019 discovery that circWHSC1 (circNSD2) functions as a sponge for miRNAs and promotes cancer, this circRNA has garnered significant interest among researchers. circWHSC1 (circNSD2) has been found to be up-regulated in various malignant tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer. It exerts its effects on cancer by either inhibiting or promoting the expression of related genes through direct or indirect pathways, ultimately affecting cancer proliferation, invasion, and prognosis. This article provides a comprehensive review and discussion of the biological roles of circWHSC1 (circNSD2) and its target genes in various cancers, as well as the latest research progress on related molecular biological regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, the potential significance of circWHSC1 (circNSD2) in future clinical applications and transformations is thoroughly analyzed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Zhang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yiran Yuan
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Heyue Wang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Institute of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiefeng He
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
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3
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Qin CM, Wei XW, Wu JY, Liu XQ, Lin Y. Decreased NSD2 impairs stromal cell proliferation in human endometrium via reprogramming H3K36me2. Reproduction 2024; 167:e230254. [PMID: 38236723 PMCID: PMC10895284 DOI: 10.1530/rep-23-0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
In brief The proliferation of the endometrium is regulated by histone methylation. This study shows that decreased NSD2 impairs proliferative-phase endometrial stromal cell proliferation in patients with recurrent implantation failure via epigenetic reprogramming of H3K36me2 methylation on the promoter region of MCM7. Abstract Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is a formidable challenge in assisted reproductive technology because of its unclear molecular mechanism. Impaired human endometrial stromal cell (HESC) proliferation disrupts the rhythm of the menstrual cycle, resulting in devastating disorders between the embryo and the endometrium. The molecular function of histone methylation enzymes in modulating HESC proliferation remains largely uncharacterized. Herein, we found that the levels of histone methyltransferase nuclear receptor binding SET domain protein 2 (NSD2) and the dimethylation of lysine 36 on histone H3 are decreased significantly in the proliferative-phase endometrium of patients with RIF. Knockdown of NSD2 in an HESC cell line markedly impaired cell proliferation and globally reduced H3K36me2 binding to chromatin, leading to altered expression of many genes. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that cell cycle-related gene sets were downregulated in the endometrium of patients with RIF and in NSD2‑knockdown HESCs. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing and CUT&Tag sequencing analysis suggested that NSD2 knockdown reduced the binding of H3K36me2 to the promoter region of cell cycle marker gene MCM7 (encoding minichromosome maintenance complex component 7) and downregulated its expression. The interaction of H3K36me2 with the MCM7 promoter was verified using chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative real-time PCR. Our results demonstrated a unifying epigenome-scale mechanism by which decreased NSD2 impairs endometrial stromal cell proliferation in the proliferative-phase endometrium of patients with RIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Mei Qin
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Wei
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Yi Wu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Qing Liu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Birth Defects and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Lin
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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4
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Li Q, Zhu J, Zhang Y, Pan Y, Li Z, Wang M, Gao Y, Feng D, He X, Zhang C. Association of WHSC1/NSD2 and T-cell infiltration with prostate cancer metastasis and prognosis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21629. [PMID: 38062230 PMCID: PMC10703870 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48906-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Progress in immunotherapy for prostate cancer (PCa) lags that for other cancers, mainly because of limited immune infiltration in PCa. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of NSD2 as an immunotherapeutic target in PCa. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression pattern of NSD2 in 34 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 36 cases of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and 57 cases of PCa, including 19 cases of metastatic castration-resistant prostatic cancer (mCRPC). Single-cell RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to correlate NSD2 with certain downstream pathways. Furthermore, the Immuno-Oncology-Biological-Research (IOBR) software package was used to analyze the potential roles of NSD2 in the tumor microenvironment. We found that the positive expression rate of NSD2 increased progressively in BPH, PIN and PCa. mCRPC had the highest staining intensity for NSD2. High NSD2 expression was positively correlated with the infiltration level of CD4+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and negatively correlated with that of CD8+ TILs. Importantly, a new immune classification based on NSD2 expression and CD4+ TILs and CD8+ TILs was successfully used to stratify PCa patients based on OS.PSA and CD4+ TILs are independent risk factors for PCa bone metastasis. This study demonstrates a novel role for NSD2 in defining immune infiltrate on in PCa and highlights the great potential for its application in immunotherapy response evaluation for prostate malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiheng Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiang Zhu
- Department of Urology Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Yun Pan
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhengjin Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Yixuan Gao
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Dongmei Feng
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoyong He
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China
| | - Chunmei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Yunnan, China.
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5
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Su D, Eliason S, Sun Z, Shao F, Amendt BA. Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome candidate 1 (Whsc1) methyltransferase signals via a Pitx2-miR-23/24 axis to effect tooth development. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105324. [PMID: 37806494 PMCID: PMC10656234 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a developmental disorder attributed to a partial deletion on the short arm of chromosome 4. WHS patients suffer from oral manifestations including cleft lip and palate, hypodontia, and taurodontism. WHS candidate 1 (WHSC1) gene is a H3K36-specific methyltransferase that is deleted in every reported case of WHS. Mutation in this gene also results in tooth anomalies in patients. However, the correlation between genetic abnormalities and the tooth anomalies has remained controversial. In our study, we aimed to clarify the role of WHSC1 in tooth development. We profiled the Whsc1 expression pattern during mouse incisor and molar development by immunofluorescence staining and found Whsc1 expression is reduced as tooth development proceeds. Using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR, Western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase assays, we determined that Whsc1 and Pitx2, the initial transcription factor involved in tooth development, positively and reciprocally regulate each other through their gene promoters. miRNAs are known to regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally during development. We previously reported miR-23a/b and miR-24-1/2 were highly expressed in the mature tooth germ. Interestingly, we demonstrate here that these two miRs directly target Whsc1 and repress its expression. Additionally, this miR cluster is also negatively regulated by Pitx2. We show the expression of these two miRs and Whsc1 are inversely correlated during mouse mandibular development. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the potential role of Whsc1 in regulating tooth development and a possible molecular mechanism underlying the dental defects in WHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Su
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Steve Eliason
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Zhao Sun
- College of Medicine, Washington University St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Fan Shao
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Brad A Amendt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
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6
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Recent advances in nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2 (NSD2) inhibitors: An update and perspectives. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 250:115232. [PMID: 36863225 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115232] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2 (NSD2) is a histone lysine methyltransferase (HKMTase), which is mainly responsible for the di-methylation of lysine residues on histones, which are involved in the regulation of various biological pathways. The amplification, mutation, translocation, or overexpression of NSD2 can be linked to various diseases. NSD2 has been identified as a promising drug target for cancer therapy. However, relatively few inhibitors have been discovered and this field still needs further exploration. This review provides a detailed summary of the biological studies related to NSD2 and the current progress of inhibitors, research, and describes the challenges in the development of NSD2 inhibitors, including SET (su(var), enhancer-of-zeste, trithorax) domain inhibitors and PWWP1 (proline-tryptophan-tryptophan-proline 1) domain inhibitors. Through analysis and discussion of the NSD2-related crystal complexes and the biological evaluation of related small molecules, we hope to provide insights for future drug design and optimization methods that will stimulate the development of novel NSD2 inhibitors.
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7
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Tumor-augmenting Effect of Histone Methyltransferase WHSC1 on Colorectal Cancer Via Epigenetic Upregulation of TACC3 and PI3K/Akt Activation. Arch Med Res 2022; 53:658-665. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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8
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Kong Y, Chen H, Chen M, Li Y, Li J, Liu Q, Xiong H, Guo T, Xie Y, Yuan Y, Zhang XL. Abnormal ECA-Binding Membrane Glycans and Galactosylated CAT and P4HB in Lesion Tissues as Potential Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:855952. [PMID: 35392238 PMCID: PMC8980540 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.855952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of cancer. Despite decades of research efforts, the search for novel biomarkers is still urgently needed for the diagnosis of HCC and the improvement of clinical outcomes. Previous studies of HCC clinical biomarkers have usually focused on serum and urine samples (e.g., serum Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). However, cellular membrane proteins in lesion tissues are less used in HCC diagnosis. The abnormal expression of membrane glycoproteins in tumor lesions are considered as potential targets for tumor diagnosis and tumor therapies. Here, a lectin array has been employed to screen and identify abnormal glycopatterns and cellular membrane glycans in HCC lesion tissues compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues. We found that there was significantly less expression of Erythrina cristagalli (ECA) lectin binding (Galβ1-3/β1-4) glycans on the cellular membrane of HCC lesion tissues compared with those of adjacent non-tumor tissues. Immunohistochemistry analysis further showed that ECA-binding ability on the membrane proteins of HCC tissues progressively decreased in different tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages (stage I to stage III) as the malignancy of liver cancer increased. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed ECA-binding ability yielding a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 75%, and a combination of ECA and AFP has better clinical diagnostic efficiency, yielding a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 85%, than ECA or AFP assay alone. ECA pull-down followed by mass spectrometry further showed that there was significantly less expression of ECA binding membrane catalase (CAT) and prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta polypeptide (P4HB) in HCC tissues compared with the adjacent non-tumor tissues. The abnormally increased expression of total CAT and P4HB and decreased expression of galactosylated membrane CAT and P4HB in HCC cell lines were correlated with an HCC metastasis status. Our findings suggest that abnormal declined ECA-binding galatosylated membrane glycans and two galactosylated-CAT and P4HB glycoproteins in lesion tissues are potential biomarkers in the diagnosis and/or metastasis prediction for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Kong
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, and Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengyu Chen
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, and Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongshuai Li
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, and Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiarong Li
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, and Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, and Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Xiong
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, and Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Tangxi Guo
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Xie
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, and Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yufeng Yuan
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Lian Zhang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, and Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China.,Allergy Department of Zhongnan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Medical Research Institute Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
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9
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Bao ZM, Yao D, Qian X, Zhang HG, Yang M, Guo YH, Qin L. Activating transcription factor 2 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing the activation of the WHSC1-mediated TOP2A/PI3K/AKT axis. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2022; 38:662-674. [PMID: 35394699 DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12536] [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: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) is a tumor driver gene implicated in several human malignancies. This study aimed to determine the roles of ATF2 and its related molecules in the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to the Pan-cancer bioinformatics system, ATF2 is highly expressed in HCC. An increase in the expression of ATF2 was identified in clinically collected tumor tissues and procured HCC cells. The silencing of ATF2 reduced the viability, colony formation, invasion, and death resistance of HepG2 and SNU-398 cells in vitro. ATF2 promoted the transcription of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome candidate 1 (WHSC1) by binding to its promoter. WHSC1 further increased the expression of DNA topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) in HCC by inducing the dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36me2) in the TOP2A promoter region. TOP2A activated the oncogenic PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Further overexpression of WHSC1 activated the TOP2A/PI3K/AKT axis and restored the malignant behaviors of HCC cells suppressed by ATF2 silencing in vitro. In summary, this study demonstrated that, depending on WHSC1, ATF2 can activate the TOP2A/PI3K/AKT signaling cascade to promote the tumorigenesis of HCC. ATF2, WHSC1, and TOP2A may serve as potential targets in managing HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Ming Bao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Huaiyin People's Hospital (Huai'an Fifth People's Hospital), Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Dan Yao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Xu Qian
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Huai'an Second People's Hospital, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Hua-Guo Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Huaiyin People's Hospital (Huai'an Fifth People's Hospital), Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Huaiyin People's Hospital (Huai'an Fifth People's Hospital), Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Yun-Hu Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Huaiyin People's Hospital (Huai'an Fifth People's Hospital), Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China
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10
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Want MY, Karasik E, Gillard B, McGray AJR, Battaglia S. Inhibition of WHSC1 Allows for Reprogramming of the Immune Compartment in Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168742. [PMID: 34445452 PMCID: PMC8395944 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy initially demonstrated promising results in prostate cancer (PCa), but the modest or negative results of many recent trials highlight the need to overcome the poor immunogenicity of this cancer. The design of effective therapies for PCa is challenged by the limited understanding of the interface between PCa cells and the immune system in mediating therapeutic resistance. Prompted by our recent observations that elevated WHSC1, a histone methyltransferase known to promote progression of numerous cancers, can silence antigen processing and presentation in PCa, we performed a single-cell analysis of the intratumoral immune dynamics following in vivo pharmacological inhibition of WHSC1 in mice grafted with TRAMP C2 cells. We observed an increase in cytotoxic T and NK cells accumulation and effector function, accompanied by a parallel remodeling of the myeloid compartment, as well as abundant shifts in key ligand–receptor signaling pathways highlighting changes in cell-to-cell communication driven by WHSC1 inhibition. This comprehensive profiling of both immune and molecular changes during the course of WHSC1 blockade deepens our fundamental understanding of how anti-tumor immune responses develop and can be enhanced therapeutically for PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzamil Y. Want
- Department of Immunology, Division of Translational Immuno Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (M.Y.W.); (A.J.R.M.)
| | - Ellen Karasik
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (E.K.); (B.G.)
| | - Bryan Gillard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (E.K.); (B.G.)
| | - A. J. Robert McGray
- Department of Immunology, Division of Translational Immuno Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (M.Y.W.); (A.J.R.M.)
| | - Sebastiano Battaglia
- Department of Immunology, Division of Translational Immuno Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (M.Y.W.); (A.J.R.M.)
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Correspondence:
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11
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Gao B, Liu X, Li Z, Zhao L, Pan Y. Overexpression of EZH2/NSD2 Histone Methyltransferase Axis Predicts Poor Prognosis and Accelerates Tumor Progression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 10:600514. [PMID: 33665162 PMCID: PMC7921704 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.600514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Two histone methyltransferases, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and nuclear SET domain-containing 2 (NSD2), are aberrantly expressed in several types of human cancers. However, the regulatory relationship between EZH2 and NSD2 and their prognostic values in breast cancer (BC) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that EZH2 and NSD2 were overexpressed in BC compared with benign lesions and normal tissues using tissue microarray, immunohistochemistry, and bioinformatic databases. Both EZH2 and NSD2 expression were associated with pathological grade of tumor and lymph node metastasis. A comprehensive survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier Plotter database indicated that EZH2 expression was negatively correlated with relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and postprogression survival (PPS) in 3951 BC patients, and NSD2 expression was negatively correlated with RFS and DMFS. Notably, EZH2 and NSD2 expression were coordinately higher in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) than that in other subtypes. Stable knockdown of EZH2 using lentiviral shRNA vector significantly reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, and downregulated NSD2 expression as well as the levels of H3K27me3 and H3K36me2, two histone methylation markers catalyzed by EZH2 and NSD2, respectively. By contrast, overexpression of EZH2 using adenovirus vector displayed an inverse phenotype. Furthermore, knockdown of NSD2 in EZH2-overexpressing cells could dramatically attenuate EZH2-mediated oncogenic effects. Bioinformatic analysis further revealed the function and pathway enrichments of co-expressed genes and interactive genes of EZH2/NSD2 axis, suggesting that EZH2/NSD2 axis was associated with cell division, mitotic nuclear division and transition of mitotic cell cycle in TNBC. Taken together, EZH2/NSD2 axis may act as a predictive marker for poor prognosis and accelerate the progression of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Gao
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xiumin Liu
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Zhengjin Li
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Lixian Zhao
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Yun Pan
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, China
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