Dataset Information

Activation of neuronal genes via LINE-1 elements upon global DNA demethylation in human neural progenitors

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that is thought to contribute to the maintenance of genomic integrity in somatic cells, in part through the silencing of transposable elements (TEs). In this study we used CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene editing to disrupt DNMT1, the key maintenance methyltransferase in somatic human cells. Surprisingly, and in contrast to findings in mouse, inactivation of DNMT1 in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) resulted in viable proliferating cells that maintained the expression of appropriate marker genes. Removal of DNA methylation in hNPCs resulted in a specific activation of hominid-specific LINE-1 elements (L1s), while other classes of TEs remained silent. We also found that the transcriptionally activated L1s acted as alternative promoters for many protein-coding genes involved in neuronal functions, uncovering an L1-based transcriptional network influencing neuronal protein-coding genes. Our results prove novel mechanistic insight into the role of DNA methylation in somatic human cells.

INSTRUMENT(S): Orbitrap Fusion

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Epithelial Cell

SUBMITTER: Jenny Hansson

LAB HEAD: Jenny Hansson

PROVIDER: PXD008648 | Pride | 2019-05-30

REPOSITORIES: Pride

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Activation of neuronal genes via LINE-1 elements upon global DNA demethylation in human neural progenitors.

Jönsson Marie E ME Ludvik Brattås Per P Gustafsson Charlotte C Petri Rebecca R Yudovich David D Pircs Karolina K Verschuere Shana S Madsen Sofia S Hansson Jenny J Larsson Jonas J Månsson Robert R Meissner Alexander A Jakobsson Johan J

Nature communications 20190718 1

DNA methylation contributes to the maintenance of genomic integrity in somatic cells, in part through the silencing of transposable elements. In this study, we use CRISPR-Cas9 technology to delete DNMT1, the DNA methyltransferase key for DNA methylation maintenance, in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs). We observe that inactivation of DNMT1 in hNPCs results in viable, proliferating cells despite a global loss of DNA CpG-methylation. DNA demethylation leads to specific transcriptional activat ...[more]

PMID: 31320637

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Project description:Purpose: Epigenetic regulation contributes to pathogenesis of neurondegenerative disease. We found that dis-regulation of a 242-gene subnetwork related to DNA methylation regulated neuronal differentiation are common in AD and HD. There are two DNA methyltransferases, DNMT1 and DNMT3A, in the subnetwork. DNMT1 is one of top hub genes in the network and likely to play a key regulatory role in the subnetwork. To validate that DNMT1 is a key regulator for the subnetwork, and DNMT3A not as one, we constructed two brain-specific conditional knockout mice. Methods: Cortices were dissected from Dnmt1 conditional knockout (CKO), Dnmt3a CKO, and respective littermate control mice at 18 weeks. RNA was isolated from three biological replicates for each genotype using TRIzol (Invitrogen) extraction and isopropanol precipitation. RNA samples were resuspended in water and further purified with RNeasy columns with on-column DNase treatment (Qiagen). RNA purity was assessed by measuring the A260/A280 ratio using a NanoDrop and RNA quality checked using an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer (Agilent Technologies). Approximately 250 ng of total RNA per sample were used for library construction by the TruSeq RNA Sample Prep Kit (Illumina) and sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 instrument according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sequence reads were aligned to mouse genome assembly mm10 and quantified using Cufflinks. Results: Genes differentially expressed in CKO mice compared to littermate control mice, or the Dnmt1 CKO signature, including GSN (the genes with the largest number of connection in the subnetwork) and SOX10 (a key transcription factor of myelination), significantly overlaps with the subnetwork. Broadly, the Dnmt1 CKO signature is enriched for genes involved in GO biological processes immune response, lipid metabolism, endocytosis, glial cell differentiation, and nerve ensheatment, consistent with biological function of the subnetwork. Moreover, the Dnmt1 CKO mice show increased predilection to seizures, an incidence also increased in patients with AD (Amatniek et al, 2006) as well as juvenile form of HD (Cloud et al, 2012). In contrast, the Dnmt3a CKO signature does not overlap with the subnetwork (p=0.07) and is not enriched for any GO biological process. Conclusions: These results suggest the Dnmt1 regulates common genes related with AD and HD while Dnmt3a has little effect. All of the mice used in this study were handled in accordance with IACUC-approved protocols. Dnmt1flox/flox (Fan et al, 2001; Jackson-Grusby et al, 2001) and Dnmt3aflox/flox (Nguyen et al, 2007) mice were backcrossed onto a C57BL/6 background and crossed with Olig1-cre mice to generate Dnmt1 conditional knockout (Olig1cre/+;Dnmt1flox/flox) and littermate control (Olig1+/+;Dnmt1flox/flox) mice, and Dnmt3a conditional knockout (Olig1cre/+;Dnmt3aflox/flox) and littermate control (Olig1+/+;Dnmt3aflox/flox) mice.

Project description:Esophageal cancers (ECs) are highly aggressive tumors with poor prognosis and few treatment options. This study investigated the possibility of treating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cells by inhibitors of broad and specific histone deacetylases (HDACi; SAHA, MS-275, FK228) and/or of DNMT (Azacytidine, AZA). Drug targets (HDAC1,2,3 and DNMT1) were present in non-neoplastic (HET-1A), ESCC (OE21) and EAC (OE33) cell lines. All cell lines responded to HDACi by reduced HDAC activity and increased histone acetylation as well as to AZA by up-regulation of p21. Expression of drug targets remained largely unaffected by HDACi and AZA treatment. Importantly, cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle dynamics and DNA damage were only affected by HDACi and/or AZA in ESCC and EAC, but not the non-neoplastic cells. This was specifically seen for the combination of MS-275 and AZA, leading to enhanced cancer cell selectivity and drug efficiency. By transcriptome analyses of MS-275, AZA and MS-275/AZA treated cells, known (e.g. p21) as well as novel regulated genes significantly associated with the cellular effects post HDACi and/or AZA treatment in ESCC and EAC cells were identified. Finally, human EC tissue specimens frequently expressed the actionable drug targets HDAC1/2/3 and DNMT1. In summary, a combined HDACi (MS-275)/AZA treatment is cancer cell selective and efficient in vitro. Since the majority of ECs express the drug targets in situ, this paves the way for further investigations of HDACi/AZA treatment in esophageal cancer cells and their translation into a clinico-pathological setting. To elucidate the transcriptome response to HDAC inhibitors of normal esophageal cells and esophageal tumor cells, total RNA was isolated from non-neoplastic esophageal epithelial cells (Het1A cells) a well as from two esophageal tumor cell lines (OE21 and OE33), respectively. Cells were treated with either MS-275, Azacytidine (AZA) or in combination of both. DMSO treatment was used as control in each case. Total RNA was isolated from cells 24 h after treatment and experiments were performed in biological triplicates.

Dataset Information

Activation of neuronal genes via LINE-1 elements upon global DNA demethylation in human neural progenitors

Publications

Activation of neuronal genes via LINE-1 elements upon global DNA demethylation in human neural progenitors.

Similar Datasets

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