Browsing by Subject "EZH2"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    CBP loss cooperates with PTEN haploinsufficiency to drive prostate cancer: implications for epigenetic therapy
    (American Association for Cancer Research, 2014-04-01) Ding, Liya; Chen, Shuai; Liu, Ping; Pan, Yunqian; Zhong, Jian; Regan, Kevin M.; Wang, Liguo; Yu, Chunrong; Rizzardi, Tony; Cheng, Liang; Zhang, Jun; Schmechel, Stephen C.; Cheville, John C.; van Deursen, Jan; Tindall, Donald J.; Huang, Haojie; Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, IU School of Medicine
    Despite the high incidence and mortality of prostate cancer, the etiology of this disease is not fully understood. In this study, we develop functional evidence for CBP and PTEN interaction in prostate cancer based on findings of their correlate expression in the human disease. Cbppc−/−;Ptenpc+/− mice exhibited higher cell proliferation in the prostate and an early onset of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Levels of EZH2 methyltransferase were increased along with its Thr350 phosphorylation in both mouse Cbp−/−;Pten+/− and human prostate cancer cells. CBP loss and PTEN deficiency cooperated to trigger a switch from K27-acetylated histone H3 to K27-trimethylated bulk histones, in a manner associated with decreased expression of the growth inhibitory EZH2 target genes DAB2IP, p27KIP1 and p21CIP1. Conversely, treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat reversed this switch, in a manner associated with tumor suppression in Cbppc−/−;Ptenpc+/− mice. Our findings show how CBP and PTEN interact to mediate tumor suppression in the prostate, establishing a central role for histone modification in the etiology of prostate cancer and providing a rationale for clinical evaluation of epigenetic targeted therapy in prostate cancer patients.
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    Elevated expression of long intergenic non-coding RNA HOTAIR in a basal-like variant of MCF-7 breast cancer cells
    (Wiley, 2015-12) Zhuang, Yan; Nguyen, Hong T.; Burow, Matthew E.; Zhuo, Ying; El-Dahr, Samir S.; Yao, Xiao; Cao, Subing; Flemington, Erik K.; Nephew, Kenneth P.; Fang, Fang; Collins-Burow, Bridgette; Rhodes, Lyndsay V.; Yu, Qiang; Jayawickramarajah, Janarthanan; Shan, Bin; Department of Medicine, IU School of Medicine
    Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is critical to phenotypic maintenance and transition of human breast cancer cells. HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is a long intergenic non-coding RNA that epigenetically represses gene expression via recruitment of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone methyltransferase. Elevated expression of HOTAIR promotes progression of breast cancer. In the current study we examined the expression and function of HOTAIR in MCF-7-TNR cells, a derivative of the luminal-like breast cancer cell line MCF-7 that acquired resistance to TNF-α-induced cell death. The expression of HOTAIR, markers of the luminal-like and basal-like subtypes, and growth were compared between MCF-7 and MCF-7-TNR cells. These variables were further assessed upon inhibition of HOTAIR, EZH2, p38 MAPK, and SRC kinase in MCF-7-TNR cells. When compared with MCF-7 cells, MCF-7-TNR cells exhibited an increase in the expression of HOTAIR, which correlated with characteristics of a luminal-like to basal-like transition as evidenced by dysregulated gene expression and accelerated growth. MCF-7-TNR cells exhibited reduced suppressive histone H3 lysine27 trimethylation on the HOTAIR promoter. Inhibition of HOTAIR and EZH2 attenuated the luminal-like to basal-like transition in terms of gene expression and growth in MCF-7-TNR cells. Inhibition of p38 and SRC diminished HOTAIR expression and the basal-like phenotype in MCF-7-TNR cells. HOTAIR was robustly expressed in the native basal-like breast cancer cells and inhibition of HOTAIR reduced the basal-like gene expression and growth. Our findings suggest HOTAIR-mediated regulation of gene expression and growth associated with the basal-like phenotype of breast cancer cells.
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    Epigenetic Activation of Pro-angiogenic Signaling Pathways in Human Endothelial Progenitors Increases Vasculogenesis
    (Cell Press, 2017-10-12) Fraineau, Sylvain; Palii, Carmen G.; McNeill, Brian; Ritso, Morten; Shelley, William C.; Prasain, Nutan; Chu, Alphonse; Vion, Elodie; Rieck, Kristy; Nilufar, Sharmin; Perkins, Theodore J.; Rudnicki, Michael A.; Allan, David S.; Yoder, Mervin C.; Suuronen, Erik J.; Brand, Marjorie; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) represent a promising source of adult stem cells for vascular repair, yet their regenerative capacity is limited. Here, we set out to understand the molecular mechanism restricting the repair function of ECFCs. We found that key pro-angiogenic pathways are repressed in ECFCs due to the presence of bivalent (H3K27me3/H3K4me3) epigenetic marks, which decreases the cells' regenerative potential. Importantly, ex vivo treatment with a combination of epigenetic drugs that resolves bivalent marks toward the transcriptionally active H3K4me3 state leads to the simultaneous activation of multiple pro-angiogenic signaling pathways (VEGFR, CXCR4, WNT, NOTCH, SHH). This in turn results in improved capacity of ECFCs to form capillary-like networks in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, restoration of perfusion is accelerated upon transplantation of drug-treated ECFCs in a model of hindlimb ischemia. Thus, ex vivo treatment with epigenetic drugs increases the vascular repair properties of ECFCs through transient activation of pro-angiogenic signaling pathways., • Pro-angiogenic pathways are maintained in a poised state in ECFCs • Epigenetic drugs resolve bivalently marked genes toward an active state in ECFCs • Treatment with epigenetic drugs activates multiple pro-angiogenic pathways in ECFCs • Ex vivo treatment with epigenetic drugs increases ECFC-mediated vasculogenesis , Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) have the unique capability to form blood vessels in vivo. Here, Brand and colleagues show that the regenerative function of ECFCs is restricted by the presence of bivalent histone marks on pro-angiogenic genes. This poised status can be overcome through the combined action of epigenetic drugs that simultaneously activate multiple pro-angiogenic pathways to increase ECFC-mediated vasculogenesis.
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    EZH2 modifies sunitinib resistance in renal cell carcinoma by kinome reprogramming
    (Cancer Research, 2017-12-01) Adelaiye-Ogala, Remi; Budka, Justin; Damayanti, Nur P.; Arrington, Justine; Ferris, Mary; Hsu, Chuan-Chih; Chintala, Sreenivasulu; Orillion, Ashley; Miles, Kiersten Marie; Shen, Li; Elbanna, May; Ciamporcero, Eric; Arisa, Sreevani; Pettazzoni, Piergiorgio; Draetta, Giulio F.; Seshadri, Mukund; Hancock, Bradley; Radovich, Milan; Kota, Janaiah; Buck, Michael; Keilhack, Heike; McCarthy, Brian P.; Persohn, Scott A.; Territo, Paul R.; Zang, Yong; Irudayaraj, Joseph; Tao, W. Andy; Hollenhorst, Peter; Pili, Roberto
    Acquired and intrinsic resistance to receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (RTKi) represent a major hurdle in improving the management of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Recent reports suggest that drug resistance is driven by tumor adaptation via epigenetic mechanisms that activate alternative survival pathways. The histone methyl transferase EZH2 is frequently altered in many cancers including ccRCC. To evaluate its role in ccRCC resistance to RTKi, we established and characterized a spontaneously metastatic, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model that is intrinsically resistant to the RTKI sunitinib but not to the VEGF therapeutic antibody bevacizumab. Sunitinib maintained its anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic activity but lost its direct anti-tumor effects due to kinome reprogramming, which resulted in suppression of pro- apoptotic and cell cycle regulatory target genes. Modulating EZH2 expression or activity suppressed phosphorylation of certain RTK, restoring the anti-tumor effects of sunitnib in models of acquired or intrinsically resistant ccRCC. Overall, our results highlight EZH2 as a rational target for therapeutic intervention in sunitinib-resistant ccRCC as well as a predictive marker for RTKi response in this disease.
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    Insights into high-risk multiple myeloma from an analysis of the role of PHF19 in cancer
    (Springer Nature, 2021-12-02) Ghamlouch, Hussein; Boyle, Eileen M.; Blaney, Patrick; Wang, Yubao; Choi, Jinyoung; Williams, Louis; Bauer, Michael; Auclair, Daniel; Bruno, Benedetto; Walker, Brian A.; Davies, Faith E.; Morgan, Gareth J.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Despite improvements in outcome, 15-25% of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients have treatment resistant high-risk (HR) disease with a poor survival. The lack of a genetic basis for HR has focused attention on the role played by epigenetic changes. Aberrant expression and somatic mutations affecting genes involved in the regulation of tri-methylation of the lysine (K) 27 on histone 3 H3 (H3K27me3) are common in cancer. H3K27me3 is catalyzed by EZH2, the catalytic subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2). The deregulation of H3K27me3 has been shown to be involved in oncogenic transformation and tumor progression in a variety of hematological malignancies including MM. Recently we have shown that aberrant overexpression of the PRC2 subunit PHD Finger Protein 19 (PHF19) is the most significant overall contributor to HR status further focusing attention on the role played by epigenetic change in MM. By modulating both the PRC2/EZH2 catalytic activity and recruitment, PHF19 regulates the expression of key genes involved in cell growth and differentiation. Here we review the expression, regulation and function of PHF19 both in normal and the pathological contexts of solid cancers and MM. We present evidence that strongly implicates PHF19 in the regulation of genes important in cell cycle and the genetic stability of MM cells making it highly relevant to HR MM behavior. A detailed understanding of the normal and pathological functions of PHF19 will allow us to design therapeutic strategies able to target aggressive subsets of MM.
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    Mismatch Repair Proteins Initiate Epigenetic Alterations during Inflammation-Driven Tumorigenesis
    (American Association for Cancer Research, 2017-07-01) Maiuri, Ashley R.; Peng, Michael; Sriramkumar, Shruthi; Kamplain, Caitlin M.; DeStefano Shields, Christina E.; Sears, Cynthia L.; O’Hagan, Heather M.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Aberrant silencing of genes by DNA methylation contributes to cancer, yet how this process is initiated remains unclear. Using a murine model of inflammation-induced tumorigenesis, we tested the hypothesis that inflammation promotes recruitment of epigenetic proteins to chromatin, initiating methylation and gene silencing in tumors. Compared with normal epithelium and noninflammation-induced tumors, inflammation-induced tumors gained DNA methylation at CpG islands, some of which are associated with putative tumor suppressor genes. Hypermethylated genes exhibited enrichment of repressive chromatin marks and reduced expression prior to tumorigenesis, at a time point coinciding with peak levels of inflammation-associated DNA damage. Loss of MutS homolog 2 (MSH2), a mismatch repair (MMR) protein, abrogated early inflammation-induced epigenetic alterations and DNA hypermethylation alterations observed in inflammation-induced tumors. These results indicate that early epigenetic alterations initiated by inflammation and MMR proteins lead to gene silencing during tumorigenesis, revealing a novel mechanism of epigenetic alterations in inflammation-driven cancer. Understanding such mechanisms will inform development of pharmacotherapies to reduce carcinogenesis.
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    Protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation regulates STAT3 activation and oncogenic EZH2 activity
    (Springer Nature, 2018-06) Özeş, Ali R.; Pulliam, Nick; Ertosun, Mustafa G.; Yilmaz, Özlem; Tang, Jessica; Çopuroğlu, Ece; Matei, Daniela; Özeş, Osman N.; Nephew, Kenneth P.; Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine
    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.