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Glaser K, Schepers EJ, Zwolshen HM, Lake CM, Timchenko NA, Karns RA, Cairo S, Geller JI, Tiao GM, Bondoc AJ. EZH2 is a key component of hepatoblastoma tumor cell growth. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2024; 71:e30774. [PMID: 37990130 PMCID: PMC10842061 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) catalyzes the trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 via the polycomb recessive complex 2 (PRC2) and plays a time-specific role in normal fetal liver development. EZH2 is overexpressed in hepatoblastoma (HB), an embryonal tumor. EZH2 can also promote tumorigenesis via a noncanonical, PRC2-independent mechanism via proto-oncogenic, direct protein interaction, including β-catenin. We hypothesize that the pathological activation of EZH2 contributes to HB propagation in a PRC2-independent manner. METHODS AND RESULTS We demonstrate that EZH2 promotes proliferation in HB tumor-derived cell lines through interaction with β-catenin. Although aberrant EZH2 expression occurs, we determine that both canonical and noncanonical EZH2 signaling occurs based on specific gene-expression patterns and interaction with SUZ12, a PRC2 component, and β-catenin. Silencing and inhibition of EZH2 reduce primary HB cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS EZH2 overexpression promotes HB cell proliferation, with both canonical and noncanonical function detected. However, because EZH2 directly interacts with β-catenin in human tumors and EZH2 overexpression is not equal to SUZ12, it seems that a noncanonical mechanism is contributing to HB pathogenesis. Further mechanistic studies are necessary to elucidate potential pathogenic downstream mechanisms and translational potential of EZH2 inhibitors for the treatment of HB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Glaser
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Emily J Schepers
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Harrison M Zwolshen
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Charissa M Lake
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Nikolai A Timchenko
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Rebekah A Karns
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Stefano Cairo
- Champions Oncology, US Research Headquarters, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - James I Geller
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Gregory M Tiao
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Alexander J Bondoc
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Wang MY, Wang XW, Zhao WX, Li Y, Cai ML, Wang KX, Xi XM, Zhao C, Zhou HM, Shao RG, Xia GM, Zhang YF, Zhao WL. Enhanced binding of β-catenin and β-TrCP mediates LMPt's anti-CSCs activity in colorectal cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 212:115577. [PMID: 37137416 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115577] [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: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subpopulation of tumor cells with the features of self-renewal, tumor initiation, and insensitivity to common physical and chemical agents, are the key to cancer relapses, metastasis, and resistance. Accessible CSCs inhibitory strategies are primarily based on small molecule drugs, yet toxicity limits their application. Here, we report a liposome loaded with low toxicity and high effectiveness of miriplatin, lipo-miriplatin (LMPt) with high miriplatin loading, and robust stability, exhibiting a superior inhibitory effect on CSCs and non-CSCs. LMPt predominantly inhibits the survival of oxaliplatin-resistant (OXA-resistant) cells composed of CSCs. Furthermore, LMPt directly blocks stemness features of self-renewal, tumor initiation, unlimited proliferation, metastasis, and insensitivity. In mechanistic exploration, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that LMPt downregulates the levels of pro-stemness proteins and that the β-catenin-mediated stemness pathway is enriched. Further research shows that either in adherent cells or 3D-spheres, the β-catenin-OCT4/NANOG axis, the vital pathway to maintain stemness, is depressed by LMPt. The consecutive activation of the β-catenin pathway induced by mutant β-catenin (S33Y) and OCT4/NANOG overexpression restores LMPt's anti-CSCs effect, elucidating the key role of the β-catenin-OCT4/NANOG axis. Further studies revealed that the strengthened binding of β-catenin and β-TrCP initiates ubiquitination and degradation of β-catenin induced by LMPt. In addition,the ApcMin/+transgenicmouse model, in which colon tumors are spontaneously formed, demonstrates LMPt's potent anti-non-CSCs activity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Yan Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Wei Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Xia Zhao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Yang Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Mei-Lian Cai
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Ke-Xin Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Ming Xi
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Cong Zhao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Hui-Min Zhou
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Rong-Guang Shao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.
| | - Gui-Min Xia
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.
| | - Ye-Fan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery/National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Wu-Li Zhao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Tiantanxili #1, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.
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