Precipitous release of methyl-CpG binding protein 2 and histone deacetylase 1 from the methylated human multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) on activation

The role of MeCP2 in the brain

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) was first identified in 1992 as a protein that binds specifically to methylated DNA. Mutations in the MECP2 gene were later found to be the cause of an autism spectrum disorder, Rett syndrome. Despite almost 20 years of research into the molecular mechanisms of MeCP2 function, many questions are yet to be answered conclusively. This review considers several key questions and attempts to evaluate the current state of evidence. For example, is MeCP2 just a methyl-CpG binding protein? Is it a multifunctional protein or primarily a transcriptional repressor? We also consider whether MeCP2, as a chromosome-binding protein, acts at specific sites within the genome or more globally, and in which cell types it is functionally important. Finally, we consider two alternative views of MeCP2 in the brain: as a regulator of brain development or as a factor that helps maintain neuronal/glial function.

Control of RUNX3 by histone methyltransferases

Runt-related (RUNX) family proteins function as context-dependent transcription factors during developmental processes such as hematopoiesis, neurogenesis, and osteogenesis. RUNX3 is involved in a variety of physiological processes including neurogenesis, thymopoiesis, and dendritic cell maturation. A large amount of information indicates that RUNX3 may be a tumor suppressor. Recent data suggest that the molecular mechanism responsible for RUNX3 deficiency in numerous cancers is a primarily epigenetic silencing. The present review focuses on the regulation of RUNX3 gene expression by histone modification, emphasizing histone methylation at the RUNX3 promoter and inactivation of protein itself. Inactivation of the promoter and protein can be the results of various chemical modifications, including methylation by histone methyltransferase. Inactivation of RUNX3 may contribute to the tumor initiation, progression and pathogenesis in specific microenvironmental contexts. Finally, this review describes the reactivation of RUNX3 by epigenetic regulatory agents.

Trichostatin A accentuates doxorubicin-induced hypertrophy in cardiac myocytes

Histone deacetylase inhibitors represent a new class of anticancer therapeutics and the expectation is that they will be most effective when used in combination with conventional cancer therapies, such as the anthracycline, doxorubicin. The dose-limiting side effect of doxorubicin is severe cardiotoxicity and evaluation of the effects of combinations of the anthracycline with histone deacetylase inhibitors in relevant models is important. We used a well-established in vitro model of doxorubicin-induced hypertrophy to examine the effects of the prototypical histone deacetylase inhibitor, Trichostatin A. Our findings indicate that doxorubicin modulates the expression of the hypertrophy-associated genes, ventricular myosin light chain-2, the alpha isoform of myosin heavy chain and atrial natriuretic peptide, an effect which is augmented by Trichostatin A. Furthermore, we show that Trichostatin A amplifies doxorubicin-induced DNA double strand breaks, as assessed by γH2AX formation. More generally, our findings highlight the importance of investigating potential side effects that may be associated with emerging combination therapies for cancer.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors as modulators of ATP binding cassette multidrug transporters: substrates, chemosensitizers or inducers of acquired multidrug resistance?

INTRODUCTION

Anticancer tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are small molecule hydrophobic compounds designed to arrest aberrant signaling pathways in malignant cells. Multidrug resistance (MDR) ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters have recently been recognized as important determinants of the general ADME-Tox (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) properties of small molecule TKIs, as well as key factors of resistance against targeted anticancer therapeutics.

AREAS COVERED

The article summarizes MDR-related ABC transporter interactions with imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib, gefitinib, erlotinib, lapatinib, sunitinib and sorafenib, including in vitro and in vivo observations. An array of methods developed to study such interactions is presented. Transporter-TKI interactions relevant to the ADME-Tox properties of TKI drugs, primary or acquired cancer TKI resistance, and drug-drug interactions are also reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

Based on the concept presented in this review, TKI anticancer drugs are considered as compounds recognized by the cellular mechanisms handling xenobiotics. Accordingly, novel anticancer therapies should equally focus on the effectiveness of target inhibition and exploration of potential interactions of the designed molecules by membrane transporters. Thus, targeted hydrophobic small molecule compounds should also be screened to evade xenobiotic-sensing cellular mechanisms.

Aberrant DNA hypermethylation patterns lead to transcriptional silencing of tumor suppressor genes in UVB-exposed skin and UVB-induced skin tumors of mice

Overexposure of the human skin to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the major etiologic factor for development of skin cancers. Here, we report the results of epigenetic modifications in UV-exposed skin and skin tumors in a systematic manner. The skin and tumor samples were collected after chronic exposure of the skin of SKH-1 hairless mice to UVB radiation using a well-established photocarcinogenesis protocol. We found a distinct DNA hypermethylation pattern in the UVB-exposed epidermal skin and UVB-induced skin tumors that was associated with the elevated expression and activity of the DNA methyltransferases (Dnmt) 1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b. To explore the role of hypermethylation in skin photocarcinogenesis, we focused on the p16(INK4a) and RASSF1A tumor suppressor genes, which are transcriptionally silenced on methylation. We established that the silencing of these genes in UVB-exposed epidermis and UVB-induced skin tumors is associated with a network of epigenetic modifications, including hypoacetylation of histone H3 and H4 and increased histone deacetylation, as well as recruitment of methyl-binding proteins, including MeCP2 and MBD1, to the methylated CpGs. Higher levels of DNA methylation and DNMT activity in human squamous cell carcinoma specimens than in normal human skin suggest that the data are relevant clinically. Our data indicate for the first time that UVB-induced DNA hypermethylation, enhanced Dnmt activity and histone modifications occur in UVB-exposed skin and UVB-induced skin tumors and suggest that these events are involved in the silencing of tumor suppressor genes and in skin tumor development.

Overcoming drug resistance by regulating nuclear receptors

Drug resistance involves multiple mechanisms. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the leading cause of treatment failure in cancer therapy. Elevated levels of MDR proteins [members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family] increase cellular efflux and decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents. As a salvage approach to overcome drug resistance, inhibitors of MDR proteins have been developed, but have had limited success mainly due to undesired toxicities. Nuclear receptors (NRs), including pregnane X receptor (PXR), regulate the expression of proteins (including MDR proteins) involved in drug metabolism and drug clearance, suggesting that it is possible to overcome drug resistance by regulating NR. This review discusses the progress in the development of MDR inhibitors, with a focus on MDR1 inhibitors. Recent development of PXR antagonists to pharmacologically modulate PXR is also reviewed. The review proposes that selectively preventing the elevation of MDR levels by regulating NRs rather than non-selectively inhibiting the MDR activity by using MDR inhibitors can be a less toxic approach to overcome drug resistance during cancer therapy.

Alleviating transcriptional inhibition of the norepinephrine slc6a2 transporter gene in depolarized neurons

Recent studies have brought to light additional experimental information, namely, that the MeCP2 protein complex is not only capable of associating with members of the ATPase-dependent bromodomain family, but also found on nonmethylated genomic sequences. These unexpected results are indicative of a multifunctional role for MeCP2, more importantly; our view of the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene activity may not be necessarily distinguishable. Depolarized mouse neuronal cortical cells were examined for increased Slc6a2 mRNA synthesis, changes in CpG methylation status using bisulfite sequencing, and binding of MeCP2 and Smarca2 on the Slc6a2 promoter sequence by chromatin immunopurification strategies. Increased Slc6a2 gene expression in response to membrane depolarization was strongly correlated with the dissociation of MeCP2 and Smarca2 complex on the unmethylated gene. We identified that gene expression in neuronal cortical cells involves increased histone hyperacetylation on the Slc6a2 promoter, which is commensurate with the recruitment of SP1 and RNA Polymerase II and is inversely correlated with H3K9 trimethylation. We hypothesize that the MeCP2 corepressor is capable of associating with multiple forms of SWI/SNF to remodel chromatin for important regulatory roles. The results of our experiments indicate that these proteins are asymmetrically bound to chromatin independent of DNA methylation and not inevitably diametrically opposed. These results now begin to offer a new perspective on the mechanism of Slc6a2 gene regulation.

Promoter- and cell-specific epigenetic regulation of CD44, Cyclin D2, GLIPR1 and PTEN by methyl-CpG binding proteins and histone modifications

Background

The aim of the current study was to analyze the involvement of methyl-CpG binding proteins (MBDs) and histone modifications on the regulation of CD44, Cyclin D2, GLIPR1 and PTEN in different cellular contexts such as the prostate cancer cells DU145 and LNCaP, and the breast cancer cells MCF-7. Since global chromatin changes have been shown to occur in tumours and regions of tumour-associated genes are affected by epigenetic modifications, these may constitute important regulatory mechanisms for the pathogenesis of malignant transformation.

Methods

In DU145, LNCaP and MCF-7 cells mRNA expression levels of CD44, Cyclin D2, GLIPR1 and PTEN were determined by quantitative RT-PCR at the basal status as well as after treatment with demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and/or histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A. Furthermore, genomic DNA was bisulfite-converted and sequenced. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed with the stimulated and unstimulated cells using antibodies for MBD1, MBD2 and MeCP2 as well as 17 different histone antibodies.

Results

Comparison of the different promoters showed that MeCP2 and MBD2a repressed promoter-specifically Cyclin D2 in all cell lines, whereas in MCF-7 cells MeCP2 repressed cell-specifically all methylated promoters. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that all methylated promoters associated with at least one MBD. Treatment of the cells by the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) caused dissociation of the MBDs from the promoters. Only MBD1v1 bound and repressed methylation-independently all promoters. Real-time amplification of DNA immunoprecipitated by 17 different antibodies showed a preferential enrichment for methylated lysine of histone H3 (H3K4me1, H3K4me2 and H3K4me3) at the particular promoters. Notably, the silent promoters were associated with unmodified histones which were acetylated following treatment by 5-aza-CdR.

Conclusions

This study is one of the first to reveal the histone code and MBD profile at the promoters of CD44, Cyclin D2, GLIPR1 and PTEN in different tumour cells and associated changes after stimulation with methylation inhibitor 5-aza-CdR.

Chemotherapeutic drug-induced ABCG2 promoter demethylation as a novel mechanism of acquired multidrug resistance

ABCG2 is an efflux transporter conferring multidrug resistance (MDR) on cancer cells. However, the initial molecular events leading to its up-regulation in MDR tumor cells are poorly understood. Herein, we explored the impact of drug treatment on the methylation status of the ABCG2 promoter and consequent reactivation of ABCG2 gene expression in parental tumor cell lines and their MDR sublines. We demonstrate that ABCG2 promoter methylation is common in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) lines, also present in primary T-ALL lymphoblast specimens. Furthermore, drug selection with sulfasalazine and topotecan induced a complete demethylation of the ABCG2 promoter in the T-ALL and ovarian carcinoma model cell lines CCRF-CEM and IGROV1, respectively. This resulted in a dramatic induction of ABCG2 messenger RNA levels (235- and 743-fold, respectively) and consequent acquisition of an ABCG2-dependent MDR phenotype. Quantitative genomic polymerase chain reaction and ABCG2 promoter-luciferase reporter assay did not reveal ABCG2 gene amplification or differential transcriptional trans-activation, which could account for ABCG2 up-regulation in these MDR cells. Remarkably, mimicking cytotoxic bolus drug treatment through 12- to 24-hour pulse exposure of ABCG2-silenced leukemia cells, to clinically relevant concentrations of the chemotherapeutic agents daunorubicin and mitoxantrone, resulted in a marked transcriptional up-regulation of ABCG2. Our findings establish that antitumor drug-induced epigenetic reactivation of ABCG2 gene expression in cancer cells is an early molecular event leading to MDR. These findings have important implications for the emergence, clonal selection, and expansion of malignant cells with the MDR phenotype during chemotherapy.

Epigenetic regulation of endometrium during the menstrual cycle

The endometrium undergoes morphological and functional changes during the menstrual cycle which are essential for uterine receptivity. These changes are driven by estrogen and progesterone and involve the fine control of many different genes-several of which have been identified as being epigenetically regulated. Epigenetic modification may therefore influence the functional changes in the endometrium required for successful implantation. There is, however, only limited information on epigenetic regulation in endometrium. We review the potential role of epigenetic regulation of key processes during the menstrual cycle and present our own findings following a preliminary study into global acetylation levels in the human endometrium. A changing epigenetic state is associated with the differentiation of stem cells into different lineages and thus may be involved in endometrial regeneration. Histone acetylation is implicated in the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway during angiogenesis, and studies using histone deacetylase inhibitors suggest an involvement in endometrial proliferation and differentiation. The processes of decidualization and implantation are also associated with epigenetic change and epigenetic modulators show variable expression across the menstrual cycle. Our own studies found that endometrial global histone acetylation, as determined by western blotting, changed throughout the menstrual cycle and correlated well with expected transcription activity during the different phases. This suggests that epigenetics may be involved in the regulation of endometrial gene expression during the menstrual cycle and that abnormal epigenetic modifications may therefore be associated with implantation failure and early pregnancy loss as well as with other endometrial pathologies.

Epigenetic regulation of multidrug resistance 1 gene expression: profiling CpG methylation status using bisulphite sequencing

Methylation of CpG dinucleotides is one of the major epigenetic processes involved in the regulation of gene expression. Catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases, hypermethylation of CpG islands in promoter regions is typically associated with gene silencing. DNA methylation plays an important role in normal differentiation, development, and maintenance of genomic stability, with aberrant CpG methylation being linked with a number of disease states. Three CpG islands within a 1.15- kb region characterize the chromatin landscape surrounding the transcriptional start site of the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene. We and others have demonstrated that hypermethylation of this region is correlated with MDR1 gene silencing and the inability of chemotherapeutic agents to activate MDR1 transcription. The bisulphite sequencing and cloning method allows a precise interpretation of the methylation status of each individual CpG dinucleotide in the MDR1 region.

Doxorubicin loaded Polymeric Nanoparticulate Delivery System to overcome drug resistance in osteosarcoma

BACKGROUND

Drug resistance is a primary hindrance for the efficiency of chemotherapy against osteosarcoma. Although chemotherapy has improved the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients dramatically after introduction of neo-adjuvant therapy in the early 1980's, the outcome has since reached plateau at approximately 70% for 5 year survival. The remaining 30% of the patients eventually develop resistance to multiple types of chemotherapy. In order to overcome both the dose-limiting side effects of conventional chemotherapeutic agents and the therapeutic failure incurred from multidrug resistant (MDR) tumor cells, we explored the possibility of loading doxorubicin onto biocompatible, lipid-modified dextran-based polymeric nanoparticles and evaluated the efficacy.

METHODS

Doxorubicin was loaded onto a lipid-modified dextran based polymeric nano-system. The effect of various concentrations of doxorubicin alone or nanoparticle loaded doxorubicin on KHOS, KHOSR2, U-2OS, and U-2OSR2 cells was analyzed. Effects on drug retention, immunofluorescence, Pgp expression, and induction of apoptosis were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Dextran nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin had a curative effect on multidrug resistant osteosarcoma cell lines by increasing the amount of drug accumulation in the nucleus via Pgp independent pathway. Nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin also showed increased apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells as compared with doxorubicin alone.

CONCLUSION

Lipid-modified dextran nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin showed pronounced anti-proliferative effects against osteosarcoma cell lines. These findings may lead to new treatment options for MDR osteosarcoma.

CpG hypomethylation of MDR1 gene in tumor and serum of invasive ductal breast carcinoma patients

OBJECTIVES

Multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene encodes P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a transmembrane calcium-dependent efflux pump, implicated in drug resistance. In this prospective study, methylation status of MDR1 promoter and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters were evaluated in tumor and serum of breast cancer patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Methylation-specific PCR was carried out to investigate the promoter methylation status of MDR1 in tumor and serum of 100 patients with invasive ductal carcinomas of breast (IDCs). The effect of promoter methylation on protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

MDR1 was hypomethylated in 47% tumors and 44% paired sera of IDC patients and correlated significantly with increased tumor size and advanced tumor stage. Promoter hypomethylation of MDR1 in serum DNA showed 98% specificity and 50% sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypomethylation of MDR1 promoter in IDCs accounted for P-gp overexpression and aggressive biologic behavior in a subset of patients. Detection of these epigenetic changes in circulating DNA may not only enhance insight into the biological behavior of the primary tumor of an individual but may also provide valuable information regarding prognosis that can be readily monitored throughout the disease course.

DNA demethylation in hormone-induced transcriptional derepression

Epigenetic modifications at the histone level affect gene regulation in response to extracellular signals. However, regulated epigenetic modifications at the DNA level, especially active DNA demethylation, in gene activation are not well understood. Here we report that DNA methylation/demethylation is hormonally switched to control transcription of the cytochrome p450 27B1 (CYP27B1) gene. Reflecting vitamin-D-mediated transrepression of the CYP27B1 gene by the negative vitamin D response element (nVDRE), methylation of CpG sites ((5m)CpG) is induced by vitamin D in this gene promoter. Conversely, treatment with parathyroid hormone, a hormone known to activate the CYP27B1 gene, induces active demethylation of the (5m)CpG sites in this promoter. Biochemical purification of a complex associated with the nVDRE-binding protein (VDIR, also known as TCF3) identified two DNA methyltransferases, DNMT1 and DNMT3B, for methylation of CpG sites, as well as a DNA glycosylase, MBD4 (ref. 10). Protein-kinase-C-phosphorylated MBD4 by parathyroid hormone stimulation promotes incision of methylated DNA through glycosylase activity, and a base-excision repair process seems to complete DNA demethylation in the MBD4-bound promoter. Such parathyroid-hormone-induced DNA demethylation and subsequent transcriptional derepression are impaired in Mbd4(-/-) mice. Thus, the present findings suggest that methylation switching at the DNA level contributes to the hormonal control of transcription.

Hypothesizing that histone deacetylase inhibitors can be used to reverse multiple drug resistance

It is well known that the mechanism of action of chemotherapeutic drugs and their ability to induce multidrug resistance (MDR) are of relevance to cancer treatment. Although MDR is a multifactorial process, the main obstacle is the expression of multidrug-efflux pumps that lowers the intracellular drug levels. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is the longest identified efflux pump. Thus, P-gp has been looked as a well established mediator of MDR and it became a therapeutic target for circumventing multidrug resistance. However, the mechanism of adjusting the expression of P-gp is not clear yet. The results of the effect of genetic polymorphism on P-gp expression and function remain conflicting. More recently, studies on the regulation of MDR1 has widened to examine the role of epigenetics and some new results were found to support the effect of epigenetic variance in vitro. It is hence hypothesized that epigenetic variants play more important roles than genetic polymorphism, thus adjusting the epigenetic factors could alter the expression of MDR, leading to the reverse of MDR. And it is further hypothesized that histone deacetylase inhibitors could be another strategy to overcome MDR. The mechanism may include a bidirectional modulation of P-gp by histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce a very broad, pleiotropic anticancer drug resistance phenotype in acute myeloid leukemia cells by modulation of multiple ABC transporter genes

PURPOSE

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are being studied in clinical trials with the aim to induce cellular differentiation, growth arrest, and apoptosis of tumor cells. Recent reports suggest that the multidrug resistance-1 (MDR1) gene is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. To investigate whether additional drug transporters are regulated by HDACi and how this affects cytotoxicity, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells were examined.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

AML cells were cultured in the presence of phenylbutyrate, valproate, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, or trichostatin A and analyzed for drug transporter expression and function as well as sensitivity to anticancer drugs.

RESULTS

MDR1, breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), and multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRP) 7 and 8 were induced in a dose- and time-dependent manner as shown by semiquantitative PCR. The pattern of gene induction was cell line specific. Phenylbutyrate induced P-glycoprotein and BCRP expression and the efflux of drugs as determined with labeled substrates. KG-1a cells treated with phenylbutyrate developed resistance to daunorubicin, mitoxantrone, etoposide, vinblastine, paclitaxel, topotecan, gemcitabine, and 5-fluorouracil; as a result drug-induced apoptosis was impaired. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed the hyperacetylation of histone proteins in the promoter regions of MDR1, BCRP, and MRP8 on valproate treatment. Furthermore, an alternative MRP8 promoter was induced by HDACi treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure of AML cells to HDACi induces a drug resistance phenotype broader than the "classic multidrug resistance," which might negatively affect treatment effectiveness.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor induction of P-glycoprotein transcription requires both histone deacetylase 1 dissociation and recruitment of CAAT/enhancer binding protein beta and pCAF to the promoter region

Although histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are appreciated as a promising class of anticancer drugs, recent reports show that P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is induced by HDAC inhibitor treatment in cancer cells, resulting in multidrug resistance of cancer cells to other chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of HDAC inhibitor induction of P-gp expression. HDAC inhibitor treatment causes cell type-specific induction of P-gp expression without changes in the CpG methylation status of the promoter region. In addition, our data show that HDAC inhibitor does not alter the DNA binding activity of Sp1 but facilitates both the recruitment of a coactivator complex that includes CAAT/enhancer binding protein beta and pCAF and the dissociation of the repressive complex, HDAC1, to the Sp1 binding region. Subsequently, the hyperacetylated histone H3 becomes enriched in the promoter region, leading to RNA polymerase II recruitment to activate P-gp gene transcription. Furthermore, specific down-regulation of HDAC1, but not HDAC2, by RNA silencing was enough to induce P-gp expression in HeLa cells, strongly supporting the essential role of HDAC1 in HDAC inhibitor induction of P-gp. Concomitantly, cell type-specific induction of P-gp expression seems to be dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. Taken together, our findings show that HDAC inhibitor treatment leads to an increase in P-gp expression through dynamic changes in chromatin structure and transcription factor association within the promoter region.

Correlation between MDR1 methylation status in the promoter region and MDR1 genetic polymorphism in 194 healthy Chinese Han subjects

AIMS

To investigate the correlation between the methylation status in the MDR1 promoter region and the MDR1 genetic polymorphism.

METHODS

A total of 194 unrelated subjects (105 men and 89 women) with a median age of 26 years were enrolled in this study. DNA was extracted and PCR-RFLP was performed for C1236T, C3435T and G2677T/A polymorphism genotyping. The combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA) method was also performed to determine DNA methylation levels in the MDR1 promoter region. Genotype frequencies for the variants SNPs were assessed for deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium using the chi2 test. Nonparametric tests including Kruskal-Wallis method and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the DNA methylation levels between different genotypes.

RESULTS

The allelic frequency distribution of the C1236T, C3435T and G2677T/A was found to be in good agreement with previous reports. Our study revealed significant correlation between different genotypes of C3435T and G2677T/A, but there is no significant difference between the different genotypes of C1236T.

CONCLUSION

A correlation between MDR1 genetic polymorphisms C3435T and G2677T/A, as well as haplotypes derived from C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T, with methylation status of MDR1 promoter region was found in this study. Further investigations are needed to explore the molecular mechanism and clinical significance of this correlation.

Involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in human osteosarcoma cell resistance to the histone deacetylase inhibitor FK228 [(1S,4S,7Z,10S,16E,21R)-7-ethylidene-4,21-bis(propan-2-yl)-2-oxa-12,13-dithia-5,8,20,23-tetraazabicyclo[8.7.6]tricos-16-ene-3,6,9,19,22-pentone]

The histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide [(1S,4S,7Z,10S, 16E,21R)-7-ethylidene-4,21-bis(propan-2-yl)-2-oxa-12,13-dithia-5,8,20,23-tetraazabicyclo[8.7.6]tricos-16-ene-3,6,9,19, 22-pentone] (FK228) has attracted a great deal of interest because of its antiproliferative and apoptotic properties in various malignancies. Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce the expression of the multidrug resistance transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and FK228 is a known P-gp substrate. Thus, FK228 seems to induce its own mechanism of drug resistance by up-regulating P-gp. The goal of this study was to establish human FK228-resistant osteosarcoma cell lines and to investigate whether there are mechanisms of FK228 resistance in addition to P-gp up-regulation. After 72 h in culture, the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of FK228 were 4.8 and 991 nM in HOS and HOS/FK8 cells, respectively, and 3.6 and 1420 nM in U2OS and U2OS/FK11 cells, respectively. Increased histone H3 acetylation was observed in FK228-resistant cell lines after a 1-h treatment with 10 nM FK228. Unlike in parental cells, significant P-gp overexpression was detected in FK228-resistant cells, and 10 nM FK228 treatment activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway but did not induce Fas ligand (FasL) up-regulation or c-FLIP down-regulation. However, treatment of FK228-resistant cells with a combination of FK228 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors induced apoptosis, up-regulated FasL, and down-regulated c-FLIP. The expression and function of P-gp were unaltered by treatment with MEK inhibitors. These results indicate that the FK228 resistance of osteosarcoma cells is related to P-gp overexpression and MAPK pathway activation by FK228. MEK or P-gp inhibitors may be useful in overcoming this resistance.

Epigenetic mechanisms involved in differential MDR1 mRNA expression between gastric and colon cancer cell lines and rationales for clinical chemotherapy

Background

The membrane transporters such as P-glycoprotein (Pgp), the MDR1 gene product, are one of causes of treatment failure in cancer patients. In this study, the epigenetic mechanisms involved in differential MDR1 mRNA expression were compared between 10 gastric and 9 colon cancer cell lines.

Methods

The MDR1 mRNA levels were determined using PCR and real-time PCR assays after reverse transcription. Cytotoxicity was performed using the MTT assay. Methylation status was explored by quantification PCR-based methylation and bisulfite DNA sequencing analyses.

Results

The MDR1 mRNA levels obtained by 35 cycles of RT-PCR in gastric cancer cells were just comparable to those obtained by 22 cycles of RT-PCR in colon cancer cells. Real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that MDR1 mRNA was not detected in the 10 gastric cancer cell lines but variable MDR1 mRNA levels in 7 of 9 colon cancer cell lines except the SNU-C5 and HT-29 cells. MTT assay showed that Pgp inhibitors such as cyclosporine A, verapamil and PSC833 sensitized Colo320HSR (colon, highest MDR1 expression) but not SNU-668 (gastric, highest) and SNU-C5 (gastric, no expression) to paclitaxel. Quantification PCR-based methylation analysis revealed that 90% of gastric cancer cells, and 33% of colon cancer cells were methylated, which were completely matched with the results obtained by bisulfite DNA sequencing analysis. 5-aza-2'-deoxcytidine (5AC, a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor) increased the MDR1 mRNA levels in 60% of gastric cells, and in 11% of colon cancer cells. Trichostatin A (TSA, histone deacetylase inhibitor) increased the MDR1 mRNA levels in 70% of gastric cancer cells and 55% of colon cancer cells. The combined treatment of 5AC with TSA increased the MDR1 mRNA levels additively in 20% of gastric cancer cells, but synergistically in 40% of gastric and 11% of colon cancer cells.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the MDR1 mRNA levels in gastric cancer cells are significantly lower than those in colon cancer cells, which is at least in part due to different epigenetic regulations such as DNA methylation and/or histone deacetylation. These results can provide a better understanding of the efficacy of combined chemotherapy as well as their oral bioavailability.

Histone H3 (lys-9) deacetylation is associated with transcriptional silencing of E-cadherin in colorectal cancer cell lines

Epigenetic parameters linked to E-cadherin gene were investigated in 5 human colorectal cancer cell lines. Treatment with trichostatin A led to enhanced acetylation of histone H3-K9 with concurrent induction of E-cadherin mRNA in 3 E-cadherin low/negative cell lines that are not DNA methylated. Co-treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A resulted in additive/synergic induction of E-cadherin mRNA in all 5 cell lines with concomitant enhancement of histone H3-K9 acetylation in 4 E-cadherin low/negative cell lines. Our results suggest that histone H3-K9 deacetylation appears to play a crucial role in transcriptional repression of E-cadherin in colorectal cancers.

The mechanism of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator transcriptional repression during the unfolded protein response

The unfolded protein response (UPR) aids cellular recovery by increasing the capacity and decreasing the protein load of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Although the main pathways of the UPR are known, the mechanisms of UPR-associated transcriptional repression have not been explored in mammalian cells. Previous studies indicate that endogenous cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mRNA levels and protein maturation efficiency decrease when the UPR is activated. In the present study, we demonstrate that inhibition of CFTR expression under ER stress leads to reduced cAMP-activated chloride secretion in epithelial monolayers, an indication of diminished CFTR function. Moreover, ER stress and the UPR obliterate endogenous DeltaF508 CFTR mRNA expression in CFPAC-1 cells without affecting recombinant DeltaF508 CFTR mRNA levels or mRNA half-life. These results emphasize that transcriptional repression of CFTR under ER stress, in concert with decreased CFTR maturation efficiency, leads to diminished function. Using human CFTR promoter reporter constructs, we confined the ER stress-associated CFTR transcriptional repression to the minimal promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays established the binding of the UPR-activated ATF6 transcription factor to this region during ER stress, which links the repression to the UPR. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) revealed hypermethylation of CpG sites inside and in the vicinity of the MAZ transcription factor binding region of CFTR, demonstrating methylation-dependent repression. Using pharmacological inhibitors, we show that both DNA methylation and histone deacetylation contribute to CFTR transcriptional inhibition. These studies provide novel insight into the mechanism of gene repression during the mammalian UPR.

Cobalamin potentiates vinblastine cytotoxicity through downregulation of mdr-1 gene expression in HepG2 cells

BACKGROUND

P-glycoprotein (Pgp), produced by multidrug resistance-1 gene (mdr-1), is a main mechanism developed by cancer cells to guard against anti-cancer drugs. Alterations of DNA methylation of the mdr-1 gene promoter are known to be linked to mdr-1 gene expression and are probably related to intracellular S-adenosyl-methionine. We here used HepG2 cells to determine the role of the methionine cycle (through the use of the Methionine-Synthase (MS) cofactor, cobalamin) on mdr-1 gene expression.

METHODS

Semiquantitative RT-PCR of mdr-1 gene, cellular retention of rhodamine-123, and vinblastine cytotoxicity were carried out on cells cultivated with and without cobalamin. Methylation status of the mdr-1 gene promoter was determined by methylation-specific PCR.

RESULTS

Addition of cobalamin to the cells led to an increase in MS activity, to a significant decrease in mdr-1 gene expression which is correlated to an increase in retention of the Pgp substrate Rhodamine 123. Furthermore, cobalamin potentiated cell sensitivity to vinblastine to the same range as that of the Pgp blocker verapamil and prevented methotrexate-induced up-regulation of mdr-1 gene expression. However, no modification in methylation of the mdr-1 gene promoter was observed.

CONCLUSION

Cobalamin downregulates mdr-1 gene expression, as well as Pgp expression and function, and significantly increases cytotoxicity of vinblastine. The identification of this novel way of diminishing cellular resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent vinblastine holds promises of leading to better treatments for cancer patients.

Poor prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia may relate to promoter hypermethylation of cancer-related genes

The hallmark of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a progressive appearance of malignant cell behavior that is triggered by the evolution of altered gene function. ALL has traditionally been viewed as a genetic disease; however, epigenetic defects also play an important role. DNA promoter methylation has gained increasing recognition as an important mechanism for transcriptional silencing of tumor-suppressor genes. Hypermethylation may contribute to the pathogenesis of leukemias providing an alternative route to gene mutation. We have reported that gene methylation in ALL cells is the most important way to inactivate cancer-related genes in this disease. In fact, this epigenetic event can help to inactivate tumor-suppressive apoptotic or growth-arresting responses and has prognostic impact in B- and T-ALL. The presence in individual tumors of multiple genes simultaneously methylated is an independent factor of poor prognosis in both childhood and adult ALL in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival. Moreover, methylation status is able to redefine the prognosis of selected ALL groups with well-established prognostic features.

Chromium cross-links histone deacetylase 1-DNA methyltransferase 1 complexes to chromatin, inhibiting histone-remodeling marks critical for transcriptional activation

Transcriptional regulation of gene expression requires posttranslational modification of histone proteins, which, in concert with chromatin-remodeling factors, modulate chromatin structure. Exposure to environmental agents may interfere with specific histone modifications and derail normal patterns of gene expression. To test this hypothesis, we coexposed cells to binary mixtures of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), an environmental procarcinogen that activates Cyp1a1 transcriptional responses mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), and chromium, a carcinogenic heavy metal that represses B[a]P-inducible AHR-mediated gene expression. We show that chromium cross-links histone deacetylase 1-DNA methyltransferase 1 (HDAC1-DNMT1) complexes to Cyp1a1 promoter chromatin and inhibits histone marks induced by AHR-mediated gene transactivation, including phosphorylation of histone H3 Ser-10, trimethylation of H3 Lys-4, and various acetylation marks in histones H3 and H4. These changes inhibit RNA polymerase II recruitment without affecting the kinetics of AHR DNA binding. HDAC1 and DNMT1 inhibitors or depletion of HDAC1 or DNMT1 with siRNAs blocks chromium-induced transcriptional repression by decreasing the interaction of these proteins with the Cyp1a1 promoter and allowing histone acetylation to proceed. By inhibiting Cyp1a1 expression, chromium stimulates the formation of B[a]P DNA adducts. Epigenetic modification of gene expression patterns may be a key element of the developmental and carcinogenic outcomes of exposure to chromium and to other environmental agents.

The histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A downregulates human MDR1 (ABCB1) gene expression by a transcription-dependent mechanism in a drug-resistant small cell lung carcinoma cell line model

Tumour drug-resistant ABCB1 gene expression is regulated at the chromatin level through epigenetic mechanisms. We examined the effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) on ABCB1 gene expression in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) drug-sensitive (H69WT) or etoposide-resistant (H69VP) cells. We found that TSA induced an increase in ABCB1 expression in drug-sensitive cells, but strongly decreased it in drug-resistant cells. These up- and downregulations occurred at the transcriptional level. Protein synthesis inhibition reduced these modulations, but did not completely suppress them. Differential temporal patterns of histone acetylation were observed at the ABCB1 promoter: increase in H4 acetylation in both cell lines, but different H3 acetylation with a progressive increase in H69WT cells but a transient one in H69VP cells. ABCB1 regulations were not related with the methylation status of the promoter -50GC, -110GC, and Inr sites, and did not result in further changes to these methylation profiles. Trichostatin A treatment did not modify MBD1 binding to the ABCB1 promoter and similarly increased PCAF binding in both H69 cell lines. Our results suggest that in H69 drug-resistant SCLC cell line TSA induces downregulation of ABCB1 expression through a transcriptional mechanism, independently of promoter methylation, and MBD1 or PCAF recruitment.

HDAC1 bound to the Cyp1a1 promoter blocks histone acetylation associated with Ah receptor-mediated trans-activation

Metabolic bioactivation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as the environmental procarcinogen benzo[a]pyrene, is catalyzed by a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase encoded by the substrate-inducible Cyp1a1 gene. Cyp1a1 induction requires trans-activation by the heterodimeric transcriptional complex formed by the liganded Ah receptor (AHR) and its partner, ARNT. Previously, we showed that constitutively bound HDAC1 dissociates from Cyp1a1 promoter chromatin after ligand-mediated induction, concomitantly with the recruitment of AHR/ARNT complexes and p300. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that HDAC1 binding maintains the Cyp1a1 gene in a silenced state in uninduced cells. We find that Cyp1a1 induction by the AHR/ARNT is associated with modification of specific chromatin marks, including hyperacetylation of histone H3K14 and H4K16, trimethylation of histone H3K4, and phosphorylation of H3S10. HDAC1 and DNMT1 form complexes on the Cyp1a1 promoter of uninduced cells but HDAC1 inhibition alone is not sufficient to induce Cyp1a1 expression, although it allows for the hyperacetylation of H3K14 and H4K16 to levels similar to those found in B[a]P-induced cells. These results show that by blocking the modification of histone marks, HDAC1 plays a central role in Cyp1a1 expression and that its removal is a necessary but not sufficient condition for Cyp1a1 induction, underscoring the requirement for a concerted series of chromatin-remodeling events to complete the initial steps of gene trans-activation by the Ah receptor.

Cancer as a manifestation of aberrant chromatin structure

In this article we review many important epigenetic changes in early carcinogenesis and discuss the possibility of these alterations being targeted for therapeutic intervention in the future. Both regional DNA methylation and global chromatin packaging are interrelated partners that function in concert to control gene transcription. We first summarize briefly DNA methylation and its role in gene expression. Then, we focus on how the DNA is packaged into chromatin and the tight relationship between chromatin and DNA methylation. A more complete understanding of these key, regulatory events is vital in approaching a more rational drug therapy to various malignancies.

Transcriptional silencing of the TMS1/ASC tumour suppressor gene by an epigenetic mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

DNA methylation and histone modifications have emerged as key mechanisms in transcriptional regulation. The target of methylation-induced silencing 1 (TMS1) is a bipartite protein. Recent studies have indicated that methylation-associated silencing of TMS1 occurs in many cancers. However, whether and how TMS1 is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms in cancers remains unknown. In this study we showed that methylation of the TMS1 promoter occurred in five of six hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. TMS1 expression was reduced in four HCC cell lines and correlated with methylation status. Furthermore, the TMS1 promoter was completely methylated and mRNA expression was undetectable. TMS1 expression could be restored by 5-aza-2'-deoxycitidine (5-Aza-dC) (a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor) or trichostatin A (TSA) (a histone deacetylase inhibitor) alone and the promoter methylation was partially reversible. TSA was more efficient than 5-Aza-dC in inducing TMS1 expression, and the combination of 5-Aza-dC and TSA resulted in markedly synergistic reactivation of the gene and completely reversed promoter methylation. Interestingly, TMS1 promoter methylation-associated gene silencing was accompanied by histone H3 Lysine 9 (H3K9) hypoacetylation and trimethylation. 5-Aza-dC and/or TSA also had some effect on conversion of methylated to acetylated H3K9 in restoring TMS1. This conversion was dynamic at the TMS1 promoter and a decrease in H3K9 trimethylation preceded an increase in H3K9 acetylation after 5-Aza-dC and/or TSA treatment. Our results thus suggest that epigenetic inactivation of TMS1 expression is regulated by promoter hypermethylation and H3K9 modifications in a coordinated way.

MDR1 hypermethylation contributes to the progression of neuroblastoma

MDR1 hypermethylation plays an important role in pathogenesis and progression of neuroblastoma tumors. This hypothesis was tested by studying the methylation status of MDR1 gene promoter in neureoblastoma biopsy specimens during the progression of tumor from stage-1 to stage-4. Results of our findings demonstrate an inverse correlation between the methylation status of MDR1 promoter and MDR1 expression during the progression of disease from stage-1 to stage-4 as determined by methylation specific PCR (MSP) and RT/PCR analyses. The results of the RT/PCR and MSP analyses were validated by quantitative Real Time PCR analysis. Data from present study suggest that transcriptional inactivation of MDR1 gene due to increased MDR1 promoter methylation may be a contributing factor in pathogenesis and progression of neuroblastoma tumors, and may be used in designing an effective treatment therapy to neuroblastoma patients.

The cancer epigenome--components and functional correlates

It is increasingly apparent that cancer development not only depends on genetic alterations but on an abnormal cellular memory, or epigenetic changes, which convey heritable gene expression patterns critical for neoplastic initiation and progression. These aberrant epigenetic mechanisms are manifest in both global changes in chromatin packaging and in localized gene promoter changes that influence the transcription of genes important to the cancer process. An exciting emerging theme is that an understanding of stem cell chromatin control of gene expression, including relationships between histone modifications and DNA methylation, may hold a key to understanding the origins of cancer epigenetic changes. This possibility, coupled with the reversible nature of epigenetics, has enormous significance for the prevention and control of cancer.

Will broad-spectrum histone deacetylase inhibitors be superseded by more specific compounds?

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors can induce differentiation, cell cycle and growth arrest or in certain cases apoptosis in cancer cells. In a remarkably short period of time, especially considering that their mechanism of action remains largely undefined, HDAC inhibitors have realized both success and failure as therapeutics for cancer in clinical trials. Notably, the pleiotropic HDAC inhibitors, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and depsipeptide, have shown efficacy in a wide range of cancers, in particular for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and are progressing in phase II clinical studies. However, evidence is accumulating that specific HDAC enzymes are important with respect to clinical efficacy, calling the usefulness of the classical inhibitors into question. Class I enzymes are being heralded as the most clinically relevant, however, this is still controversial and much of the information is in the private domain. Nevertheless, the potential to alter the expression of a more focused, disease-related subset of genes and to limit adverse effects has prompted the development of isoform-specific HDAC inhibitors. Here, we consider the growing view that broad-spectrum HDAC inhibitors may be superseded by more specific compounds.

Human multidrug resistance ABCB and ABCG transporters: participation in a chemoimmunity defense system

In this review we give an overview of the physiological functions of a group of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins, which were discovered, and still referred to, as multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters. Although they indeed play an important role in cancer drug resistance, their major physiological function is to provide general protection against hydrophobic xenobiotics. With a highly conserved structure, membrane topology, and mechanism of action, these essential transporters are preserved throughout all living systems, from bacteria to human. We describe the general structural and mechanistic features of the human MDR-ABC transporters and introduce some of the basic methods that can be applied for the analysis of their expression, function, regulation, and modulation. We treat in detail the biochemistry, cell biology, and physiology of the ABCB1 (MDR1/P-glycoprotein) and the ABCG2 (MXR/BCRP) proteins and describe emerging information related to additional ABCB- and ABCG-type transporters with a potential role in drug and xenobiotic resistance. Throughout this review we demonstrate and emphasize the general network characteristics of the MDR-ABC transporters, functioning at the cellular and physiological tissue barriers. In addition, we suggest that multidrug transporters are essential parts of an innate defense system, the "chemoimmunity" network, which has a number of features reminiscent of classical immunology.

Differential regulation of the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) and ADH1C genes by DNA methylation and histone deacetylation

BACKGROUND

The human class I alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) genes (ADH1A, ADH1B, and ADH1C) differ in expression during development and in various tissues. They are repressed in the HepG2 human hepatoma cell line. We hypothesized that epigenetic modifications play a role in this repression and that class I ADH gene expression would be enhanced upon global inhibition of DNA methylation and histone deacetylation.

METHODS

Southern blotting was used to assess the methylation status of each class I ADH gene. HepG2 and HeLa cells were treated with either the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA), or both in combination, and class I ADH gene expression was analyzed. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed to analyze histone H3 acetylation. Transient transfections and gel mobility shift assays were used to analyze the role that methylation plays in inhibiting transcription factor binding and promoter function.

RESULTS

We show that the upstream regions of ADH1A, ADH1B, and ADH1C are methylated in HepG2 cells. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment enhanced expression of both ADH1B and ADH1C. Trichostatin A treatment elevated expression of ADH1C. ADH1A expression was not stimulated by either 5-aza-dC or TSA. H3 histones associated with a methylated upstream region of ADH1B were hyperacetylated in TSA-treated, but not in 5-aza-dC-treated, HepG2 cells. A methylated upstream region of ADH1C achieved histone H3 hyperacetylation upon either 5-aza-dC or TSA treatment. Methylation of the ADH1B proximal promoter in vitro decreased its activity to 54% and inhibited the binding of the upstream stimulatory factor.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the class I ADH genes are regulated by epigenetic mechanisms in human hepatoma cells. The temporal and tissue-specific expression of these genes may in part result from differences in epigenetic modifications and the availability of key transcription factors.

Global DNA hypermethylation-associated cancer chemotherapy resistance and its reversion with the demethylating agent hydralazine

BACKGROUND

The development of resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy continues to be a major obstacle for successful anticancer therapy. It has been shown that cells exposed to toxic concentrations of commonly used cancer chemotherapy agents develop DNA hypermethylation. Hence, demethylating agents could play a role in overcoming drug resistance.

METHODS

MCF-7 cells were rendered adriamycin-resistant by weekly treatment with adriamycin. Wild-type and the resulting MCF-7/Adr cells were analyzed for global DNA methylation. DNA methyltransferase activity and DNA methyltransferase (dnmt) gene expression were also determined. MCF-7/Adr cells were then subjected to antisense targeting of dnmt1, -3a, and -b genes and to treatment with the DNA methylation inhibitor hydralazine to investigate whether DNA demethylation restores sensitivity to adriamycin.

RESULTS

MCF-7/Adr cells exhibited the multi-drug resistant phenotype as demonstrated by adriamycin resistance, mdr1 gene over-expression, decreased intracellular accumulation of adriamycin, and cross-resistance to paclitaxel. The mdr phenotype was accompanied by global DNA hypermethylation, over-expression of dnmt genes, and increased DNA methyltransferase activity as compared with wild-type MCF-7 cells. DNA demethylation through antisense targeting of dnmts or hydralazine restored adriamycin sensitivity of MCF-7/Adr cells to a greater extent than verapamil, a known inhibitor of mdr protein, suggesting that DNA demethylation interferes with the epigenetic reprogramming that participates in the drug-resistant phenotype.

CONCLUSION

We provide evidence that DNA hypermethylation is at least partly responsible for development of the multidrug-resistant phenotype in the MCF-7/Adr model and that hydralazine, a known DNA demethylating agent, can revert the resistant phenotype.

The neuronal noradrenaline transporter, anxiety and cardiovascular disease

Panic disorder can serve as a clinical model for testing whether mental stress can cause heart disease. Potential neural mechanisms of cardiac risk are the sympathetic activation during panic attacks, continuing release of adrenaline as a co-transmitter in the cardiac sympathetic nerves, and impairment of noradrenaline neuronal reuptake, augmenting sympathetic neural respnses. The phenotype of impaired neuronal reuptake of noradrenaline: an epigenetic mechanism? We suspect that this phenotype, in sensitizing people to heart symptom development, is a cause of panic disorder, and by magnifying the sympathetic neural signal in the heart, underlies increased cardiac risk. No loss of function mutations of the coding region of the norepinephrine transporter (NET) are evident, but we do detect hypermethylation of CpG islands in the NET gene promoter region. Chromatin immunoprecipitation methodology demonstrates binding of the inhibitory transcription factor, MeCP2, to promoter region DNA in panic disorder patients. Cardiovascular illnesses co-morbid with panic disorder. Panic disorder commonly coexists with essential hypertension and the postural tachycardia syndrome. In both of these cardiovascular disorders the impaired neuronal noradrenaline reuptake phenotype is also present and, as with panic disorder, is associated with NET gene promoter region DNA hypermethylation. An epigenetic 'co-morbidity' perhaps underlies the clinical concordance. Brain neurotransmitters. Using internal jugular venous sampling, in the absence of a panic attack we find normal norepinephrine turnover, but based on measurements of the overflow of the serotonin metabolite, 5HIAA, a marked increase (six to sevenfold) in brain serotonin turnover in patients with panic disorder. This appears to represent the underlying neurotransmitter substrate for the disorder. Whether this brain serotonergic activation is a prime mover, or consequential on other primary causes of panic disorder, including cardiac sensitization by faulty neuronal noradrenaline reuptake leading to cardiac symptoms and the enhanced vigilance which accompanies them, is unclear at present.

Ube3a expression is not altered in Mecp2 mutant mice

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cognitive regression, loss of purposeful hand movements and speech, stereotypies, ataxia, seizures, mental retardation and acquired microcephaly. Mutations in MECP2, encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, are responsible for approximately 90% of classic RTT cases. RTT displays phenotypic overlap with Angelman syndrome, a disorder caused by loss of expression of the imprinted gene UBE3A. MeCP2 binds to methylated DNA and may alter the expression of imprinted genes, thereby suggesting a mechanistic link between the two disorders. Here, we tested the hypothesis that MeCP2 deficiency affects expression of Ube3a in mouse models of RTT. As Ube3a is only imprinted in brain, we evaluated Ube3a expression in brains of 15 different litters of neonatal or 8-week-old male Mecp2 mutant mice by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis. We found no significant differences between Mecp2(tm1.1Bird/Y) or Mecp2(tm1.1Jae/Y) mutants and their wild-type male siblings that served as negative controls. In positive control mice carrying a maternally inherited Ube3a deletion, Ube3a sense transcript and protein levels were drastically reduced. Our data contrast with two recent reports of substantially decreased Ube3a expression in brain tissues of MeCP2-deficient mice. We, therefore, challenge the conclusion that decreased UBE3A/Ube3a expression contributes to the pathophysiology of RTT.

Mechanisms of abnormal gene expression in tumor cells

Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in critical nuclear processes such as transcriptional control, genome stability, replication and repair. Recent evidence suggests that changes in the epigenetic repertoire can drive tumorigenesis. This review examines the latest experimental evidence that questions the mechanisms underlying the consequence of epigenetic changes in gene regulation and cancer development.

Role of DNA hypomethylation in the development of the resistance to doxorubicin in human MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells

The resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents is a major clinical problem and an important cause of treatment failure in cancer. Mechanisms that have developed to guard cancer cells against anti-cancer drugs are major barriers to successful anti-cancer therapy. Therefore, the identification of novel mechanisms of cellular resistance holds the promise of leading to better treatments for cancer patients. In the present study, we used human MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line and its doxorubicin-resistant variant MCF-7/R to determine the role of alterations of DNA methylation of chemoresitance-related genes, such as multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1), glutathione-S-transferase (GSTpi), O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), and urokinase (Upa), in the development of drug resistance. The promoter regions of MDR1, GSTpi, MGMT, and Upa genes were highly methylated in MCF-7 cell line but not in its MCF-7/R drug resistant variant. The hypomethylated status of MDR1 gene was associated with overexpression of P-glycoprotein. We hypothesize that acquirement of doxorubicin resistance of MCF-7 cells is associated with DNA hypomethylation of the promoter regions of the MDR1, GSTpi, MGMT, and Upa genes.

WTH3, which encodes a small G protein, is differentially regulated in multidrug-resistant and sensitive MCF7 cells

The WTH3 gene's biological characteristics and relationship to multidrug resistance (MDR) were investigated further. Results showed that WTH3 was mainly located in the cytosol and capable of binding to GTP. In addition, WTH3's promoter function was significantly attenuated in MDR (MFC7/AdrR) relative to non-MDR (MCF7/WT) cells. Advanced analyses indicated that two mechanisms could be involved in WTH3's down-regulation: DNA methylation and trans-element modulations. It was found that the 5' end portion of a CpG island in WTH3's promoter was hypermethylated in MCF7/AdrR but not MCF7/WT cells, which could have a negative effect on the WTH3 promoter. This idea was supported by the observation that a 45-bp sequence (DMR45) in this differentially methylated region positively influenced promoter activity. We also discovered that different nuclear proteins in MCF7/AdrR and MCF7/WT cells bound to methylated or nonmethylated DMR45. Moreover, a sequence containing a unique repeat that was also a positive cis-element for the promoter was attached by different transcription factors depending on whether they were prepared from MCF7/AdrR or MCF7/WT cells. These molecular changes, apparently induced by drug treatment, resulted in WTH3's down regulation in MDR cells. Therefore, present studies support previous observations that WTH3, as a negative regulator, participates in MDR development in MCF7/AdrR cells.

Regulation of RNA splicing by the methylation-dependent transcriptional repressor methyl-CpG binding protein 2

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a postnatal neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the loss of acquired motor and language skills, autistic features, and unusual stereotyped movements. RTT is caused by mutations in the X-linked gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Mutations in MECP2 cause a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders including X-linked mental retardation, psychiatric disorders, and some cases of autism. Although MeCP2 was identified as a methylation-dependent transcriptional repressor, transcriptional profiling of RNAs from mice lacking MeCP2 did not reveal significant gene expression changes, suggesting that MeCP2 does not simply function as a global repressor. Changes in expression of a few genes have been observed, but these alterations do not explain the full spectrum of Rett-like phenotypes, raising the possibility that additional MeCP2 functions play a role in pathogenesis. In this study, we show that MeCP2 interacts with the RNA-binding protein Y box-binding protein 1 and regulates splicing of reporter minigenes. Importantly, we found aberrant alternative splicing patterns in a mouse model of RTT. Thus, we uncovered a previously uncharacterized function of MeCP2 that involves regulation of splicing, in addition to its role as a transcriptional repressor.

Coordinated changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications regulate silencing/derepression of luteinizing hormone receptor gene transcription

We have previously demonstrated that transcription of the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) gene is subject to repression by histone deacetylation at its promoter region, where a histone deacetylase (HDAC)/mSin3A complex is anchored at a proximal Sp1 site. The present studies have shown that epigenetic silencing and activation of the LHR gene is achieved through coordinated regulation at both the histone and DNA levels. The HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) evoked robust but significantly lower activation of the LHR gene in JAR than in MCF-7 cells. This effect was localized to the 176-bp promoter region, which is highly methylated in JAR and lightly methylated in MCF-7 cells. Consequently, TSA and the DNA demethylating reagent 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC) caused marked synergistic activation of the LHR gene in JAR but not in MCF-7 cells. Multiple site-specific lysine acetylation of H3/H4 is associated with such LHR gene activation. Methylation or acetylation of H3 at K9 is present at the silenced and derepressed LHR promoter, respectively. While DNA methylation levels did not affect the histone code of the LHR gene promoter, demethylation of the promoter CpG sites was necessary for maximal stimulation of this gene. Mechanistically, the combined actions of TSA and 5-AzaC, but not either 5-AzaC or TSA alone, resulted in complete demethylation of the LHR gene promoter in JAR cells. Release of the repressive HDAC/mSin3A complex from the LHR gene promoter in both cell types required both TSA-induced changes of histone modifications and, concurrently, a demethylated promoter. Also, Dnmt1 was largely dissociated from the LHR gene promoter in the presence of TSA or TSA plus 5-AzaC, and binding of MBD2 in JAR cells was diminished upon conversion of the promoter to a demethylated state. Such changes induced a more permissive chromatin where recruitment of polymerase II and TFIIB to the promoter was significantly increased. The activated state of the LHR gene induced by TSA and 5-AzaC in JAR and MCF-7 cells was observed basally in LHR-expressing PLC cells, in which the promoter is unmethylated and associated with hyperacetylated histones. Consequently, PLC cells are unresponsive to drug treatment. These findings have elucidated a regulatory mechanism whereby concurrent dissociation of repressors and association of activators and basal transcriptional components, resulting from coordinated histone hyperacetylation and DNA demethylation, lead to derepression of the LHR gene expression.

Up-regulation of MDR1 and induction of doxorubicin resistance by histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide (FK228) and ATRA in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells

The multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene product P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is frequently implicated in cross-resistance of tumors to chemotherapeutic drugs. In contrast, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells do not express MDR1 and are highly sensitive to anthracyclines. The combination of ATRA and the novel histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) depsipeptide (FK228) induced P-gp expression and prevented growth inhibition and apoptosis in NB4 APL cells subsequently exposed to doxorubicin (DOX). ATRA/FK228 treatment after exposure to DOX, however, enhanced apoptosis. Both agents, ATRA or FK228, induced MDR1 mRNA. This effect was significantly enhanced by ATRA/FK228 administered in combination, due in part to increased H4 and H3-Lys9 acetylation of the MDR1 promoter and recruitment of the nuclear transcription factor Y alpha (NFYA) transcription activator to the CCAAT box. Cotreatment with specific P-gp inhibitor PSC833 reversed cytoprotective effects of ATRA/FK228. G1 cell-cycle arrest and p21 mRNA induction were also observed in response to ATRA/FK228, which may restrict DOX-induced apoptosis of cells in G2 phase. These results indicate that epigenetic mechanisms involving NF-YA transcription factor recruitment and histone acetylation are activated by ATRA and HDACI, induce MDR1 in APL cells, and point to the critical importance of mechanism-based sequential therapy in future clinical trials that combine HDAC inhibitors, ATRA, and anthracyclines.

DNA Binding Selectivity of MeCP2 Due to a Requirement for A/T Sequences Adjacent to Methyl-CpG

DNA methylation is interpreted by a family of methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins that repress transcription through recruitment of corepressors that modify chromatin. To compare in vivo binding of MeCP2 and MBD2, we analyzed immunoprecipitated chromatin from primary human cells. Genomic sites occupied by the two MBD proteins were mutually exclusive. As MeCP2 was unable to colonize sites vacated by depletion of MBD2, we tested the hypothesis that methyl-CpG alone is insufficient to direct MeCP2 binding. In vitro selection for MeCP2 bound DNA-enriched fragments containing A/T bases ([A/T] > or = 4) adjacent to methyl-CpG. [A/T] > or = 4 was found to be essential for high-affinity binding at selected sites and at known MeCP2 target regions in the Bdnf and Dlx6 genes. MBD2 binding, however, did not require an A/T run. The unexpected restriction of MeCP2 to a defined subset of methyl-CpG sites will facilitate identification of genomic targets that are relevant to Rett Syndrome.