Project description:Background & Aims: E-cadherin expression disruption is commonly observed in epithelial cancers and metastasis. Such event is also recognized as a crucial step in gastric cancer (GC) initiation and progression. As aberrant expression of microRNAs often perturb the normal expression and function of pivotal cancer-related genes, we characterized and dissected a pathway initiated by loss of microRNA-101 that causes E-cadherin dysfunction through upregulation of EZH2 expression in GC. Methods: Microarrays were used to profile the expression of microRNAs in human GC. Array-CGH revealed DNA copy number changes that were validated by genomic quantitative PCR and Snapshot. Expression levels of microRNAs, mRNA and protein were determined by quantitative-real time PCR and western-blot/co-immunofluorescence. CDH1 inactivating mechanisms were analyzed. Gain and loss of function experiments were done in KatoIII cells. E-cadherin functionality was assessed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Results: MiR-101 expression was significantly decreased in tumors in comparison with normal gastric mucosas (P<.0001). In 65% of the analyzed GC cases, miR-101 downregulation was caused by deletions and/or microdeletions at miR-101-2 locus. EZH2 overexpression and consequent loss/aberrant E-cadherin expression was found in concomitance with miR-101 downregulation in 41% of the analyzed GC cases. This occurred preferentially in cases retaining allele(s) untargeted by classical CDH1 inactivating mechanisms. MiR-101 gain of function experiments or direct inhibition of EZH2, led to a strong depletion of endogenous EZH2 protein and consequent rescue of functional E-cadherin at the cell membrane, mimicking results obtained with clinical GC samples. Conclusions: Deletions and/or microdeletions at miR-101-2 locus underlying mature miR-101 downregulation and consequent EZH2 overexpression represented a novel cascade of genetic events leading to E-cadherin disruption, preferentially affecting the intestinal-type of GC. In the present study, 37 primary GCs and a pool of 10 normal gastric mucosas were used to acquire the expression of 703 known human mature miRNAs deposited in the Sanger miRBase Sequence Database, Release 10.0 (http://microrna.sanger.ac.uk), as well as 393 novel human miRNAs discovered through deep sequencing and validated by qRT-PCR and array profiling (NCodeM-bM-^DM-" Human miRNA microarray probe set V3 from Invitrogen). The 10 normal gastric mucosa RNA samples were pooled to obtain the normal gastric reference sample, which was labelled and hybridised four times to check arrays' reproducibility.
Project description:Background & Aims: E-cadherin expression disruption is commonly observed in epithelial cancers and metastasis. Such event is also recognized as a crucial step in gastric cancer (GC) initiation and progression. As aberrant expression of microRNAs often perturb the normal expression and function of pivotal cancer-related genes, we characterized and dissected a pathway initiated by loss of microRNA-101 that causes E-cadherin dysfunction through upregulation of EZH2 expression in GC. Methods: Microarrays were used to profile the expression of microRNAs in human GC. Array-CGH revealed DNA copy number changes that were validated by genomic quantitative PCR and Snapshot. Expression levels of microRNAs, mRNA and protein were determined by quantitative-real time PCR and western-blot/co-immunofluorescence. CDH1 inactivating mechanisms were analyzed. Gain and loss of function experiments were done in KatoIII cells. E-cadherin functionality was assessed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Results: MiR-101 expression was significantly decreased in tumors in comparison with normal gastric mucosas (P<.0001). In 65% of the analyzed GC cases, miR-101 downregulation was caused by deletions and/or microdeletions at miR-101-2 locus. EZH2 overexpression and consequent loss/aberrant E-cadherin expression was found in concomitance with miR-101 downregulation in 41% of the analyzed GC cases. This occurred preferentially in cases retaining allele(s) untargeted by classical CDH1 inactivating mechanisms. MiR-101 gain of function experiments or direct inhibition of EZH2, led to a strong depletion of endogenous EZH2 protein and consequent rescue of functional E-cadherin at the cell membrane, mimicking results obtained with clinical GC samples. Conclusions: Deletions and/or microdeletions at miR-101-2 locus underlying mature miR-101 downregulation and consequent EZH2 overexpression represented a novel cascade of genetic events leading to E-cadherin disruption, preferentially affecting the intestinal-type of GC.
Project description:miR-101 is a tumor suppressive microRNA. Besides EZH2, a well known EZH2 target, miR-101 should have other targets, which might also contribute to its tumor suppressive function. Thus, we performed array hybridization to determine changes in gene expression upon miR-101 overexpression in U2OS cells.
Project description:miR-101 is a tumor suppressive microRNA. Besides EZH2, a well known EZH2 target, miR-101 should have other targets, which might also contribute to its tumor suppressive function. Thus, we performed array hybridization to determine changes in gene expression upon miR-101 overexpression in U2OS cells. U2OS were transfected with synthetic miRNA negative control (NC) or miR-101 for 48hrs, and then harvested for RNA preparation. Three independent experiments were performed. One NC sample were repeated twice for the microarray.
Project description:Transcriptional analysis of genes in SKBr3 cells. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a mammalian histone methyltransferase that contributes to the epigenetic silencing of target genes and regulates the survival and metastasis of cancer cells. EZH2 is overexpressed in aggressive solid tumors by mechanisms that remain unclear. Here we show that the expression and function of EZH2 in cancer cell lines are inhibited by microRNA-101 (miR-101).
Project description:Posterior fossa A (PFA) ependymomas comprise one out of nine molecular groups of ependymoma. PFA tumors are mainly diagnosed in infants and young children, show a poor prognosis and are characterized by a lack of the repressive histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) mark. Recently, we reported CXorf67 overexpression as hallmark of PFA ependymoma and showed that CXorf67 can interact with EZH2 thereby inhibiting polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Here, we report that the inhibitory mechanism of this interaction is similar as in diffuse midline gliomas harboring H3K27M mutations. A small, highly conserved peptide sequence located in the C-terminal region of CXorf67 mimics the H3K27M peptide and binds to the SET domain of EZH2. This interaction blocks EZH2 methyltransferase activity and causes H3K27 hypomethylation, an oncogenic mechanism that may be exploited for targeted therapy in PFA ependymoma. Based on its function, we have renamed CXorf67 into EZH2 Inhibitory Protein (EZHIP).
Project description:Epidermal hyperplasia, a characteristic feature of psoriatic skin lesions, is epigenetically driven by Enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). EZH2 and EZH2-mediated trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) are both abnormally upregulated in psoriatic lesions. To identify microRNAs that could potentially target these epigenetic regulators we profiled miRNAs from psoriatic lesional skin in comparison with healthy skin. Analysis of the differentially expressed miRNAs revealed miR-101, as one of the most significant miRNA, consistently downregulated in psoriatic lesions compared to the healthy skin. A clear inverse correlation in the expression of miR-101 versus EZH2 was apparent in normal skin versus psoriatic lesional skin indicating that EZH2 is a potential target of miR-101, which was further confirmed by luciferase assay. Investigating the upstream effectors of the miR-101- EZH2 pathway in psoriasis, we identified the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 as regulator of miR-101 expression. Here we propose a model, depicting a pathway triggered by IL-17 – mediated modulation of miR-101 expression, which in turn elicit sustained expression of EZH2, leading to enhanced keratinocyte proliferation and epidermal hyperplasia in psoriasis. Taken together, this indicates that miR-101 is a potential therapeutic target to alleviate the downstream effects of IL-17 mediated epidermal hyperplasia in psoriasis.
Project description:To find potential microRNA links between Smad3 and E-cadherin, we characterized the microRNA profiles of two gastric cancer cell lines: SNU484-LPCX, which does not express Smad3, and SNU484-Smad3, in which Smad3 is overexpressed. We found that miR-200 families, among other differentially expressed miRNAs, are overexpressed in SNU484-Smad3. Through subsequent studies, including silencing of Smad3 in SNU484-Smad3 and expression profiling of epithelial-mesenchymal markers and ZEB1/2, known repressors of E-cadherin, we found that Smad3 regulates miR-200 families at the transcriptional level, which regulate ZEB 1/2, known transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin, at the post-transcriptional level. This represents an important link between the TGF-beta signaling pathway and post-transcriptional regulation by miRNAs.
Project description:To find potential microRNA links between Smad3 and E-cadherin, we characterized the microRNA profiles of two gastric cancer cell lines: SNU484-LPCX, which does not express Smad3, and SNU484-Smad3, in which Smad3 is overexpressed. We found that miR-200 families, among other differentially expressed miRNAs, are overexpressed in SNU484-Smad3. Through subsequent studies, including silencing of Smad3 in SNU484-Smad3 and expression profiling of epithelial-mesenchymal markers and ZEB1/2, known repressors of E-cadherin, we found that Smad3 regulates miR-200 families at the transcriptional level, which regulate ZEB 1/2, known transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin, at the post-transcriptional level. This represents an important link between the TGF-beta signaling pathway and post-transcriptional regulation by miRNAs. Examination of small RNA expression in 2 different cell lines (SNU484-LPCX, SNU484-Smad3).