Prognostic relevance of global histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methylation in renal cell carcinoma

Epigenetic alterations play an important role in carcinogenesis. Recent studies suggested that global histone modifications are predictors of cancer recurrence in various tumor entities. Our study was performed to evaluate histone H3 lysine 4 mono‐methyl (H3K4me1), ‐di‐methyl (H3K4me2) and ‐trimethyl (H3K4me3) patterns in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using a tissue microarray with 193 RCC (including 142 clear cell, 31 papillary, 10 chromophobe and 10 sarcomatoid RCC) and 10 oncocytoma specimens: H3K4me3 staining was more intense in papillary RCC, whereas H3K4me1 and H3K4me2 were similar in the diverse RCC subtypes. H3K4me2 and H3K4me3 levels were increased in oncocytoma. H3K4me1‐3 levels were inversely correlated with Fuhrman grading, pT stage, lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. Progression‐free survival and cancer‐specific survival were shorter in patients with low levels of H3K4me1‐3 in the univariate analysis, but we did not observe a significant correlation of a single modification in a multivariate model, which also included the established prognostic parameters TNM‐stage and Fuhrman grade. In comparison, the H3K4me score, which combined staining levels of the H3K4 modifications, was an independent predictor of RCC progression‐free survival. Our study on H3K4 methylation supports the concept of global histone modifications as potential cancer prognosis markers.     

MUC2 expression is regulated by histone H3 modification and DNA methylation in pancreatic cancer

Mucins are highly glycosylated proteins that play important roles in carcinogenesis. In pancreatic neoplasia, MUC2 mucin has been demonstrated as a tumor suppressor and we have reported that MUC2 is a favorable prognostic factor. Regulation of MUC2 gene expression is known to be controlled by DNA methylation, but the role of histone modification for MUC2 gene expression has yet to be clarified. Herein, we provide the first report that the histone H3 modification of the MUC2 promoter region regulates MUC2 gene expression. To investigate the histone modification and DNA methylation of the promoter region of the MUC2 gene, we treated 2 human pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC1 (MUC2-negative) and BxPC3 (MUC2-positive) with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-aza), the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA), and a combination of these agents. The DNA methylation level of PANC1 cells was decreased by all 3 treatments, whereas histone H3-K4/K9 methylation and H3-K9/K27 acetylation in PANC1 cells was changed to the level in BxPC3 cells by treatment with TSA alone and with the 5-aza/TSA combination. The expression level of MUC2 mRNA in PANC1 cells exhibited a definite increase when treated with TSA and 5-aza/TSA, whereas 5-aza alone induced only a slight increase. Our results suggest that histone H3 modification in the 5' flanking region play an important role in MUC2 gene expression, possibly affecting DNA methylation. An understanding of these intimately correlated epigenetic changes may be of importance for predicting the outcome of patients with pancreatic neoplasms.     

Global histone H3K27 methylation levels are different in localized and metastatic prostate cancer

Global histone modification patterns have been shown to be a predictive factor of recurrence in various cancers. We analyzed global histone-3-lysine-27 (H3K27) methylation in prostate cancer (PCA) tissues. H3K27 mono-, di-, and tri-methylation patterns were different in nonmalignant prostate tissue, localized PCA, metastatic PCA, and castration-resistant PCA. H3K27 mono-methylation was correlated with pT-stage, capsular penetration, seminal vesicle infiltration, and Gleason score in localized PCA and may therefore indicate adverse prognosis.     

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 downregulates E-cadherin by mediating histone H3 methylation in gastric cancer cells

Overexpression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), an epigenetic repressor, occurs in various malignancies and is associated with poor prognosis; however, the functional role of EZH2 overexpression in cancer versus non-cancerous tissue remains unclear. In this study, we found an inverse correlation between EZH2 and E-cadherin gene expression in gastric cancer cells. Knockdown of EZH2 by short interfering RNA in gastric cancer cells resulted in a restoration of the E-cadherin gene. We showed that the EZH2 complex existed with histone H3 and Lys27, which were methylated on E-cadherin promoter regions in gastric cancer cells. The restoration of E-cadherin was not involved in the change of the DNA methylation status in the E-cadherin promoter region. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed the expression of E-cadherin protein present in the cell membrane was restored after knockdown of EZH2, resulting in changing the cancer phenotype, such as its invasive capacity. In vivo , the relationship of inverse expression between EZH2 protein and E-cadherin protein was observed at the individual cellular level in gastric cancer tissue. This study provides into the mechanisms underlying the functional role of EZH2 overexpression in gastric cancer cells and a new modality of regulation of E-cadherin expression in silencing mechanisms of tumor suppressor genes. Our present study paves the way for exploring the blockade of EZH2 overexpression as a novel approach to treating cancer. ( Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 738–746)     

Inhibition of histone H3K79 methylation selectively inhibits proliferation,self-renewal and metastatic potential of breast cancer

Histone lysine methylation regulates gene expression and cancer initiation. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that DOT1L, a histone H3-lysine79 (H3K79) methyltransferase, plays a potentially important role in breast cancer. DOT1L inhibition selectively inhibited proliferation, self-renewal, metastatic potential of breast cancer cells and induced cell differentiation. In addition, inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH), such as neplanocin and 3-deazaneplanocin, also inhibited both H3K79 methylation and proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The activity of SAHH inhibitors was previously attributed to inhibition of H3K27 methyltransferase EZH2. However, inhibition of EZH2 by a specific inhibitor did not contribute to cell death. SAHH inhibitors had only weak activity against H3K27 methylation and their activity is therefore mainly due to DOT1L/H3K79 methylation inhibition. Overall, we showed that DOT1L is a potential drug target for breast cancer.     

金属硫蛋白1h与常染色质组蛋白甲基转移酶1结合调节组蛋白H3K9甲基化并抑制肺癌细胞周期及运动

目的:观察常染色质组蛋白甲基转移酶1(euchromatic histone methyltransferase1,EHMT1)与金属硫蛋白1h(metallothionein1h,MT1h)的相互作用及定位,探讨其对组蛋白H3K9甲基化和肺癌细胞生物学行为的影响及可能的作用机制。方法:将pGBKT7-MT1h质粒与pGADT7-EHMT1质粒共同转化至酵母菌株AH109,进行酵母双杂交实验。将pcDNA4/TO/myc-hisA/MT1h与pcDNA6/TR质粒共转染肺癌细胞株A549和A2,并用四环素诱导MT1h表达后,采用免疫共沉淀和激光共聚焦法检测MT1h、标签蛋白c-myc和EHMT1蛋白的表达及定位;运用组蛋白H3K9甲基转移酶试剂盒检测甲基化转移酶活性,Western印迹法检测三甲基化的组蛋白H3K9表达;FCM和克隆形成实验检测MT1h表达对细胞增殖的影响;划痕实验和Borden小室法检测MT1h对细胞迁移的影响。结果:实验证实MT1h与EHMT1存在直接作用,且二者共定位于细胞核。诱导MT1h表达后,组蛋白甲基化转移酶活性升高,并且MT1h与组蛋白赖氨酸H3K9三甲基化密切相关。功能分析显示,MT1h稳定转染的肺癌细胞多处于G0期,细胞运动和迁移能力降低。结论:MT1h与EHMT1在细胞核内直接作用,可能通过调节组蛋白H3K9甲基化来发挥抑癌基因的作用。     

The interplay between H3K36 methylation and DNA methylation in cancer

<正>Cancer refers to a diverse collection of diseases characterized by several well-established hallmarks, including the abilities to sustain proliferative signaling, evade growth suppressors, activate invasion and metastasis, enable replicative immortality, induce angiogenesis, and resist cell death¹.     

Modulators of DNA methylation and histone acetylation

The distribution of epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, is abnormal in cancer cells, and drugs that influence these changes are currently being used effectively in the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies. Two hypomethylating agents, 5-azacytidine and decitabine, are FDA-approved for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes, and one histone deacetylase inhibitor, vorinostat, was recently FDA-approved for patients with refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Generally, these agents are very well tolerated, with myelosuppression being the major side effect. Although they are thought to work by re-organizing chromatin to allow expression of genes silenced by DNA hypermethylation and repressive histone modifications, the precise mechanism of action of these agents is not yet clear. Current studies are examining the utility of these agents for the treatment of solid tumors as well as testing these drugs in combination to treat a variety of malignancies.     

Crosstalk between site-specific modifications on p53 and histone H3

Previously, we have observed a link between p53 expression and histone H3 post-translational modifications. Here, we ask if specific post-translational modifications of p53 impact upon histone H3 modifications in a selective manner. We have also screened for internal co-operative effects within the repertoire of p53 modifications. Exogenous p53 constructs were expressed in HCT116 p53-/- cells. Four mutant p53 constructs were used, with single 'phosphorylation' mutations at serines 15 and 37 (S15A, S15D, S37A and S37D) and compared with exogenously expressed wild-type p53. The results showed that the replacement of serine 15 with either alanine (S15A) or aspartic acid (S15D) induced phosphorylation at S33P, S37P and S46P. In contrast, phosphorylation mutants p53(S37A) and p53(S37D) were not phosphorylated on S33. S46 phosphorylation appeared specifically enhanced by p53(S37D) relative to p53(S37A). Distal induction of S392 phosphorylation was observed for each of the p53 N-terminal phosphorylation mutants. Analysis of endogenous histone H3 (from the transfected cells) revealed loss of di-methylated K9 following expression of wild type and mutant p53 constructs. Expression of p53 (S15A), (S15D) and (S37A) selectively induced acetylation at K9 and K14. In contrast, wt p53 and p53(S37D) had no effect upon K9 or K14 acetylation. K18 acetylation status was unaffected throughout.     

Synergistic antileukemic action of a combination of inhibitors of DNA methylation and histone methylation

DNA methylation and histone methylation are both involved in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and their dysregulation can play an important role in leukemogenesis. Aberrant DNA methylation has been reported to silence the expression of tumor suppressor genes in leukemia. Overexpression of the histone methyltransferase, EZH2, a subunit of the polycomb group repressive complex 2 (PRC2), was observed to promote oncogenesis. This is due to aberrant gene silencing by the trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) by EZH2. Since both these epigenetic silencing events are reversible, they are interesting targets for chemotherapeutic intervention by using an inhibitor of DNA methylation, such as 5-aza-2'-deoxcytidine (5-AZA-CdR), and 3-deazaneplanocin-A (DZNep), an inhibitor of the EZH2. Human HL-60 and murine L1210 leukemic cells exposed in vitro to 5-AZA-CdR and DZNep in combination showed a synergistic loss of clonogenicity in a colony assay as compared to each agent alone. This positive chemotherapeutic interaction was also observed in mice with L1210 leukemia. Quantitative PCR showed that the combination also produced a remarkable synergistic activation of the tumor suppressor genes, CDKN1A and FBXO32. Microarray analysis showed that 5-AZA-CdR plus DZNep produced a synergistic activation of >150 genes. Our results indicate that 5-AZA-CdR plus DZNep can reactivate target genes that are silenced by two distinct epigenetic mechanisms leading to a loss of the proliferative potential of leukemic cells.     

Hypoxic stress induces dimethylated histone H3 lysine 9 through histone methyltransferase G9a in mammalian cells

Dimethylated histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2) is a critical epigenetic mark for gene repression and silencing and plays an essential role in embryogenesis and carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the effects of hypoxic stress on H3K9me2 at both global and gene-specific level. We found that hypoxia increased global H3K9me2 in several mammalian cell lines. This hypoxia-induced H3K9me2 was temporally correlated with an increase in histone methyltransferase G9a protein and enzyme activity. The increase in H3K9me2 was significantly mitigated in G9a-/- mouse embryonic stem cells following hypoxia challenge, indicating that G9a was involved in the hypoxia-induced H3K9me2. In addition to the activation of G9a, our results also indicated that hypoxia increased H3K9me2 by inhibiting H3K9 demethylation processes. Hypoxic mimetics, such as deferoxamine and dimethyloxalylglycine, were also found to increase H3K9me2 as well as G9a protein and activity. Finally, hypoxia increased H3K9me2 in the promoter regions of the Mlh1 and Dhfr genes, and these increases temporally correlated with the repression of these genes. Collectively, these results indicate that G9a plays an important role in the hypoxia-induced H3K9me2, which would inhibit the expression of several genes that would likely lead to solid tumor progression.