1
|
Qiang Y, Fan J, Xie C, Yan L, Song X, Zhang N, Lin Y, Xiong J, Zhang W, Liu Y, Wei L, Li Y, Chen S, Liang K, Li F. KDM5C-Mediated Recruitment of BRD4 to Chromatin Regulates Enhancer Activation and BET Inhibitor Sensitivity. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1252-1269. [PMID: 38285760 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-2888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The BET family member BRD4 is a bromodomain-containing protein that plays a vital role in driving oncogene expression. Given their pivotal role in regulating oncogenic networks in various cancer types, BET inhibitors (BETi) have been developed, but the clinical application has been impeded by dose-limiting toxicity and resistance. Understanding the mechanisms of BRD4 activity and identifying predictive biomarkers could facilitate the successful clinical use of BETis. Herein, we show that KDM5C and BRD4 cooperate to sustain tumor cell growth. Mechanistically, KDM5C interacted with BRD4 and stimulated BRD4 enhancer recruitment. Moreover, binding of the BRD4 C-terminus to KDM5C stimulated the H3K4 demethylase activity of KDM5C. The abundance of both KDM5C-associated BRD4 and H3K4me1/3 determined the transcriptional activation of many oncogenes. Notably, depletion or pharmacologic degradation of KDM5C dramatically reduced BRD4 chromatin enrichment and significantly increased BETi efficacy across multiple cancer types in both tumor cell lines and patient-derived organoid models. Furthermore, targeting KDM5C in combination with BETi suppressed tumor growth in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. Collectively, this work reveals a KDM5C-mediated mechanism by which BRD4 regulates transcription, providing a rationale for incorporating BETi into combination therapies with KDM5C inhibitors to enhance treatment efficacy. SIGNIFICANCE BRD4 is recruited to enhancers in a bromodomain-independent manner by binding KDM5C and stimulates KDM5C H3K4 demethylase activity, leading to synergistic effects of BET and KDM5C inhibitor combinations in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Qiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiachen Fan
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuanshuai Xie
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Leilei Yan
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofei Song
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Xiong
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Wei
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shizhen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|