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Scalia P, Williams SJ, Fujita-Yamaguchi Y. Human IGF2 Gene Epigenetic and Transcriptional Regulation: At the Core of Developmental Growth and Tumorigenic Behavior. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1655. [PMID: 37371750 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of the human IGF2 gene displays multiple layers of control, which secures a genetically and epigenetically predetermined gene expression pattern throughout embryonal growth and postnatal life. These predominantly nuclear regulatory mechanisms converge on the function of the IGF2-H19 gene cluster on Chromosome 11 and ultimately affect IGF2 gene expression. Deregulation of such control checkpoints leads to the enhancement of IGF2 gene transcription and/or transcript stabilization, ultimately leading to IGF-II peptide overproduction. This type of anomaly is responsible for the effects observed in terms of both abnormal fetal growth and increased cell proliferation, typically observed in pediatric overgrowth syndromes and cancer. We performed a review of relevant experimental work on the mechanisms affecting the human IGF2 gene at the epigenetic, transcriptional and transcript regulatory levels. The result of our work, indeed, provides a wider and diversified scenario for IGF2 gene activation than previously envisioned by shedding new light on its extended regulation. Overall, we focused on the functional integration between the epigenetic and genetic machinery driving its overexpression in overgrowth syndromes and malignancy, independently of the underlying presence of loss of imprinting (LOI). The molecular landscape provided at last strengthens the role of IGF2 in cancer initiation, progression and malignant phenotype maintenance. Finally, this review suggests potential actionable targets for IGF2 gene- and regulatory protein target-degradation therapies.
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Key Words
- (IGF2/H19) IG-DMR, intergenic differentially methylated region
- BWS, Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome
- CCD, centrally conserved domain
- CNV, copy number variation
- CTCF, CCCTC binding factor
- DMD, differentially methylated domain
- DMR, differentially methylated region
- GOM, gain of methylation
- ICR1, imprinting control region 1
- IGF-II, insulin-like growth factor-2 peptide
- IGF2, insulin-like growth factor 2 gene
- LOI, loss of imprinting
- LOM, loss of methylation
- MOI, maintenance of imprinting
- SRS, Silver Russel Syndrome
- TF: transcription factor
- UPD, uniparental disomy
- WT1, Wilms Tumor protein 1
- mRNA transcript
- p0–p4: IGF2 promoters 0–4
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Scalia
- ISOPROG-Somatolink EPFP Research Network, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA, and 93100 Caltanissetta, Italy
- Sbarro Cancer Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, CST, Biology Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Stephen J Williams
- ISOPROG-Somatolink EPFP Research Network, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA, and 93100 Caltanissetta, Italy
- Sbarro Cancer Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, CST, Biology Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Yoko Fujita-Yamaguchi
- Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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The IGF-II-Insulin Receptor Isoform-A Autocrine Signal in Cancer: Actionable Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12020366. [PMID: 32033443 PMCID: PMC7072655 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin receptor overexpression is a common event in human cancer. Its overexpression is associated with a relative increase in the expression of its isoform A (IRA), a shorter variant lacking 11 aa in the extracellular domain, conferring high affinity for the binding of IGF-II along with added intracellular signaling specificity for this ligand. Since IGF-II is secreted by the vast majority of malignant solid cancers, where it establishes autocrine stimuli, the co-expression of IGF-II and IRA in cancer provides specific advantages such as apoptosis escape, growth, and proliferation to those cancers bearing such a co-expression pattern. However, little is known about the exact role of this autocrine ligand–receptor system in sustaining cancer malignant features such as angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. The recent finding that the overexpression of angiogenic receptor kinase EphB4 along with VEGF-A is tightly dependent on the IGF-II/IRA autocrine system independently of IGFIR provided new perspectives for all malignant IGF2omas (those aggressive solid cancers secreting IGF-II). The present review provides an updated view of the IGF system in cancer, focusing on the biology of the autocrine IGF-II/IRA ligand–receptor axis and supporting its underscored role as a malignant-switch checkpoint target.
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Yi T, Wang T, Shi Y, Peng X, Tang S, Zhong L, Chen Y, Li Y, He K, Wang M, Zhao H, Li Q. Long noncoding RNA 91H overexpression contributes to the growth and metastasis of HCC by epigenetically positively regulating IGF2 expression. Liver Int 2020; 40:456-467. [PMID: 31724285 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Long noncoding RNA 91H is transcribed from the H19/IGF2 locus and contributes to the development of breast and oesophagus cancers by regulating the expression of IGF2, but the regulation mechanism remains poorly characterized. Here, we explored the role of 91H in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the mechanism of IGF2 expression regulation by 91H. METHODS Firstly, the expression of 91H was analysed in HCC by quantitative RT-PCR, the association of 91H with survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the effect of 91H on the growth and invasion of HCC was investigated by the in vitro and in vivo studies. Then, the association of 91H with the expression of IGF2 was evaluated in HCC tissues, and the effect of 91H on the expression of IGF2 was investigated by 91H knockdown. Finally, the binding of RBBP5 to 91H and the binding of RBBP5, activating H3K4me3 mark and repressive H3K27me3 mark to the P3 and P4 promoters of IGF2 gene were studied by RIP and ChIP respectively. RESULTS The overexpression of 91H was found in HCC and in association with the growth, metastasis and shorter survival time of HCC. The knockdown of 91H down-regulated the IGF2 expression in HCC, and the mechanism was correlated with the decreased enrichment of RBBP5 and H3K4me3 and increased enrichment of H3K27me3 at the bivalent P3 and P4 promoters. CONCLUSIONS The overexpression of 91H promotes tumour growth and metastasis, and is associated with a poor prognosis of HCC at least partially by positively regulating the expression of IGF2 through bivalent histone modification changes characterized by H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 at the P3 and P4 promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingzhuang Yi
- Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, BaiSe, P. R. China
| | - Tonghua Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, BaiSe, P. R. China.,Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Ying Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojuan Peng
- Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital (Clinical College) of Xiangnan University, Chenzhou, P. R. China
| | - Shaohui Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Lu Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yanfang Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yuting Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Kaiyin He
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Hailiang Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, BaiSe, P. R. China.,Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Interventional vascular surgery, Affiliated Hospital (Clinical College) of Xiangnan University, Chenzhou, P. R. China
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