RESUMO
Changes in epigenetic programming have been proposed as being key events in the initiation and progression of childhood cancers. HMT euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2 (G9a, EHMT2), which is encoded by the G9a (Ehmt2) gene, as well as its related protein GLP, which is encoded by the GLP/Ehmt1 gene, participate in epigenetic regulation by contributing to a transcriptionally repressed chromatin state. G9a/GLP activation has been reported in several cancer types. Herein, we evaluated the role of G9a in two solid pediatric tumors: neuroblastoma (NB) and Ewing sarcoma (ES). Our results show that G9a/Ehmt2 and GLP/Ehmt1 expression is higher in tumors with poorer prognosis, including St4 International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage, MYCN amplified NB, and metastatic ES. Importantly, higher G9a and GLP levels were associated with shorter patient overall survival (OS) in both NB and ES. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of G9a/GLP reduced cell viability in NB and ES cells. These findings suggest that G9a and GLP are associated with more aggressive NB and ES tumors and should be further investigated as being epigenetic targets in pediatric solid cancers.
Assuntos
Neuroblastoma , Sarcoma de Ewing , Criança , Humanos , Sobrevivência Celular/genética , Epigênese Genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/metabolismo , Histona Metiltransferases/metabolismo , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/metabolismo , Neuroblastoma/genética , Sarcoma de Ewing/genéticaRESUMO
Changes in epigenetic programming are associated with cancer development during childhood. Components of the epigenetic machinery involved in normal embryonic development and hijacked by pediatric cancers include enzymes mediating post-translational modifications of DNA and histones that regulate chromatin structure, such as histone methyltransferases (HMTs). Overexpression of the HMT G9a (euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2, EHMT2) has been described in several cancer types. Medulloblastoma (MB), the main type of malignant brain tumor afflicting children, is currently classified into four molecular subgroups. Here, we show that expression level of the G9a/Ehmt2 gene is higher in MB tumors belonging to the SHH, Group 3, and Group 4 subgroups, compared to Wnt tumors. Remarkably, high G9a expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival in MB patients. We also present evidence that G9a inhibition dose-dependently reduces MB cell viability. Our findings suggest that higher transcription of G9a may be a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with SHH MB, and that inhibiting G9a activity can display antitumor effects in MB.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Cerebelares , Meduloblastoma , Criança , Humanos , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Meduloblastoma/genética , Prognóstico , Neoplasias Cerebelares/genética , Biomarcadores , Proteínas Hedgehog/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/metabolismoRESUMO
Despite the high number of individuals infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms worldwide, many exposed individuals remain asymptomatic and/or uninfected and seronegative. This could be explained by a combination of environmental (exposure), immunological (previous infection), epigenetic, and genetic factors. Aiming to identify genetic factors involved in immune response in symptomatic COVID-19 as compared to asymptomatic exposed individuals, we analyzed 83 Brazilian couples where one individual was infected and symptomatic while the partner remained asymptomatic and serum-negative for at least 6 months despite sharing the same bedroom during the infection. We refer to these as "discordant couples". We performed whole-exome sequencing followed by a state-of-the-art method to call genotypes and haplotypes across the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region. The discordant partners had comparable ages and genetic ancestry, but women were overrepresented (65%) in the asymptomatic group. In the antigen-presentation pathway, we observed an association between HLA-DRB1 alleles encoding Lys at residue 71 (mostly DRB1*03:01 and DRB1*04:01) and DOB*01:02 with symptomatic infections and HLA-A alleles encoding 144Q/151R with asymptomatic seronegative women. Among the genes related to immune modulation, we detected variants in MICA and MICB associated with symptomatic infections. These variants are related to higher expression of soluble MICA and low expression of MICB. Thus, quantitative differences in these molecules that modulate natural killer (NK) activity could contribute to susceptibility to COVID-19 by downregulating NK cell cytotoxic activity in infected individuals but not in the asymptomatic partners.
Assuntos
Infecções Assintomáticas , COVID-19 , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade , Complexo Principal de Histocompatibilidade , SARS-CoV-2 , Adulto , Idoso , Brasil , COVID-19/genética , COVID-19/imunologia , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Genótipo , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/imunologia , Humanos , Complexo Principal de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Complexo Principal de Histocompatibilidade/imunologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sequenciamento do ExomaRESUMO
Euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) and EHMT2 are upregulated in various human cancers, and their deregulation is associated with tumor development and progression. In this paper, we investigated the expression level of EHMT1/EHMT2 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and whether the modulation of these enzymes could have any cellular or molecular impact on ALL cells. For this, we used UNC0646 as a priming strategy to target EHMT1/EHMT2 and investigated its effect on proliferation and cell viability of Jurkat cells by MTT assay. Then, considering the IC50 and IC75, cellular death was determined by Annexin V/PI staining using flow cytometry. Finally, we investigated by RT-PCR the molecular bases that could be involved in the observed effects. Interestingly, accessing the International Microarray Innovations in Leukemia (MILE) study group, we detected that both EHMT1 and EHMT2 are overexpressed in ALL. More important, we determined that inhibition of EHMT1/EHMT2 significantly decreased Jurkat cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, we observed that inhibition of EHMT1/EHMT2 promoted Jurkat cell death, which was accompanied by increased expression of P53, TP73, BAX, and MDM4. These results clearly indicate that inhibition of EHMT1/EHMT2 induces pro-apoptotic gene expression in ALL and promotes cell death. More importantly, the modulation of these histone methyltransferases may be a promising epigenetic target for ALL treatment.
Assuntos
Regulação Leucêmica da Expressão Gênica , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/genética , Proteína Tumoral p73/genética , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/genética , Morte Celular , Proliferação de Células , Sobrevivência Celular , Simulação por Computador , Epigênese Genética , Humanos , Células JurkatRESUMO
Orchestrated events, including extensive changes in epigenetic marks, allow a somatic nucleus to become totipotent after transfer into an oocyte, a process termed nuclear reprogramming. Recently, several strategies have been applied in order to improve reprogramming efficiency, mainly focused on removing repressive epigenetic marks such as histone methylation from the somatic nucleus. Herein we used the specific and non-toxic chemical probe UNC0638 to inhibit the catalytic activity of the histone methyltransferases EHMT1 and EHMT2. Either the donor cell (before reconstruction) or the early embryo was exposed to the probe to assess its effect on developmental rates and epigenetic marks. First, we showed that the treatment of bovine fibroblasts with UNC0638 did mitigate the levels of H3K9me2. Moreover, H3K9me2 levels were decreased in cloned embryos regardless of treating either donor cells or early embryos with UNC0638. Additional epigenetic marks such as H3K9me3, 5mC, and 5hmC were also affected by the UNC0638 treatment. Therefore, the use of UNC0638 did diminish the levels of H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 in SCNT-derived blastocysts, but this was unable to improve their preimplantation development. These results indicate that the specific reduction of H3K9me2 by inhibiting EHMT1/2 during nuclear reprogramming impacts the levels of H3K9me3, 5mC, and 5hmC in preimplantation bovine embryos.
Assuntos
Reprogramação Celular/genética , Metilação de DNA/genética , Desenvolvimento Embrionário/genética , Histona Metiltransferases/genética , Animais , Blastocisto , Bovinos , Diferenciação Celular , Clonagem de Organismos/métodos , Transferência Embrionária/métodos , Epigênese Genética/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Técnicas de Transferência Nuclear , Oócitos/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Processamento de Proteína Pós-Traducional/genética , Quinazolinas/farmacologiaRESUMO
Objective: Cocaine use disorders (CUDs) represent a major public health problem in many countries. To better understand the interaction between the environmental modulations and phenotype, the aim of the present study was to investigate the DNA methylation pattern of CUD patients, who had concomitant cocaine and crack dependence, and healthy controls. Methods: We studied DNA methylation profiles in the peripheral blood of 23 CUD patients and 24 healthy control subjects using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip arrays. Results: Comparison between CUD patients and controls revealed 186 differentially methylated positions (DMPs; adjusted p-value [adjP] < 10-5) related to 152 genes, with a subset of CpGs confirmed by pyrosequencing. DNA methylation patterns discriminated CUD patients and control groups. A gene network approach showed that the EHMT1, EHMT2, MAPK1, MAPK3, MAP2K1, and HDAC5 genes, which are involved in transcription and chromatin regulation cellular signaling pathways, were also associated with cocaine dependence. Conclusion: The investigation of DNA methylation patterns may contribute to a better understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in CUD.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Adulto Jovem , Cocaína Crack , Metilação de DNA , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/genética , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/sangue , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla/métodos , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Modelos Lineares , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Estatísticas não Paramétricas , Proteína Quinase 1 Ativada por Mitógeno/genética , MAP Quinase Quinase 1/genética , Proteína Quinase 3 Ativada por Mitógeno/genética , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Histona Desacetilases/genéticaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Cocaine use disorders (CUDs) represent a major public health problem in many countries. To better understand the interaction between the environmental modulations and phenotype, the aim of the present study was to investigate the DNA methylation pattern of CUD patients, who had concomitant cocaine and crack dependence, and healthy controls. METHODS: We studied DNA methylation profiles in the peripheral blood of 23 CUD patients and 24 healthy control subjects using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip arrays. RESULTS: Comparison between CUD patients and controls revealed 186 differentially methylated positions (DMPs; adjusted p-value [adjP] < 10-5) related to 152 genes, with a subset of CpGs confirmed by pyrosequencing. DNA methylation patterns discriminated CUD patients and control groups. A gene network approach showed that the EHMT1, EHMT2, MAPK1, MAPK3, MAP2K1, and HDAC5 genes, which are involved in transcription and chromatin regulation cellular signaling pathways, were also associated with cocaine dependence. CONCLUSION: The investigation of DNA methylation patterns may contribute to a better understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in CUD.
Assuntos
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/sangue , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/genética , Cocaína Crack , Metilação de DNA , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla/métodos , Adulto , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Histona Desacetilases/genética , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Humanos , Modelos Lineares , MAP Quinase Quinase 1/genética , Masculino , Proteína Quinase 1 Ativada por Mitógeno/genética , Proteína Quinase 3 Ativada por Mitógeno/genética , Estatísticas não Paramétricas , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Background Heterodimeric methyltransferases GLP (EHMT1/KMT1D) and G9a (EHMT2/KMT1C) are two closely related enzymes that promote the monomethylation and dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9. Dysregulation of their activity has been implicated in several types of human cancer. Patients and methods Here, in order to investigate whether GLP/G9a exerts any impact on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), GLP/G9a expression levels were assessed in a cohort of 50 patients and the effects of their inhibition were verified for the viability of CLL cells. Also, qRT-PCR was used to investigate the transcriptional levels of GLP/G9a in CLL patients. In addition, patient samples were classified according to ZAP-70 protein expression by flow cytometry and according to karyotype integrity by cytogenetics analysis. Finally, a selective small molecule inhibitor for GLP/G9a was used to ascertain whether these methyltransferases influenced the viability of MEC-1 CLL cell lineage. Results mRNA analysis revealed that CLL samples had higher levels of GLP, but not G9a, when compared to non-leukemic controls. Interestingly, patients with unfavorable cytogenetics showed higher expression levels of GLP compared to patients with favorable karyotypes. More importantly, GLP/G9a inhibition markedly induced cell death in CLL cells. Conclusion Taken together, these results indicate that GLP is associated with a worse prognosis in CLL, and that the inhibition of GLP/G9a influences CLL cell viability. Altogether, the present data demonstrate that these methyltransferases can be potential markers for disease progression, as well as a promising epigenetic target for CLL treatment and the prevention of disease evolution.
Assuntos
Regulação Leucêmica da Expressão Gênica , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Feminino , Humanos , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prognóstico , Proteína-Tirosina Quinase ZAP-70/metabolismoRESUMO
Approximately 5% of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected individuals will develop one of the HTLV-1-related diseases, such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) or adult T-cell leukemia. However, the mechanisms responsible for the appearance of symptoms have not been fully clarified. It is believed that viral factors, host genetic and epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in this process. Studies have shown the involvement of histone methyltransferases in retrovirus infection, but no study observed their expression in HTLV-1-infected patients. Among them, euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase (EHMT)-1 and EHMT-2 were related to retroviral latency in HIV-1 infection. We investigated whether histone methyltransferases EHMT1 and EHMT2 exert any influence on HAM/TSP development by assessing their expression levels in CD4+ T-cells from HTLV-1-infected patients. CD4+ T-cells were immunomagnetically isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HTLV-1-infected or non-infected individuals and the expression levels of EHMT1 and EHMT2 were determined by RT-qPCR. We observed that EHMT2 was negatively regulated in HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers compared to non-infected individuals. No difference was observed for EHMT1. These results suggest that EHMT2 downregulation in CD4+ T-cells may be linked to a protection mechanism against the development of HAM/TSP.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/metabolismo , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/metabolismo , Vírus Linfotrópico T Tipo 1 Humano , Paraparesia Espástica Tropical/genética , Paraparesia Espástica Tropical/virologia , Adulto , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos , Feminino , Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade/genética , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
We investigated the phylogenetic relationships between pig breeds, compared the genetic similarity between humans and pigs, and provided basic genetic information on Korean native pigs (KNPs), using genetic variants of the swine leukocyte antigen 3 (SLA-3) gene. Primers were based on sequences from GenBank (accession Nos. AF464010 and AF464009). Polymerase chain reaction analysis amplified approximately 1727 bp of segments, which contained 1086 bp of coding regions and 641 bp of the 3'- and 5'-untranslated regions. Bacterial artificial chromosome clones of miniature pigs were used for sequencing the SLA-3 genomic region, which was 3114 bp in total length, including the coding (1086 bp) and non-coding (2028 bp) regions. Sequence analysis detected 53 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), based on a minor allele frequency greater than 0.01, which is low compared with other pig breeds, and the results suggest that there is low genetic variability in KNPs. Comparative analysis revealed that humans possess approximately three times more genetic variation than do pigs. Approximately 71% of SNPs in exons 2 and 3 were detected in KNPs, and exon 5 in humans is a highly polymorphic region. Newly identified sequences of SLA-3 using KNPs were submitted to GenBank (accession No. DQ992512-18). Cluster analysis revealed that KNPs were grouped according to three major alleles: SLA-3*0502 (DQ992518), SLA-3*0302 (DQ992513 and DQ992516), and SLA-3*0303 (DQ992512, DQ992514, DQ992515, and DQ992517). Alignments revealed that humans have a relatively close genetic relationship with pigs and chimpanzees. The information provided by this study may be useful in KNP management.