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Souza BK, Freire NH, Monteiro TS, Herlinger AL, Jaeger M, Dalmolin MGS, de Farias CB, Gregianin L, Brunetto AT, Brunetto AL, Thiele CJ, Roesler R. Histone Methyltransferases G9a/ Ehmt2 and GLP/ Ehmt1 Are Associated with Cell Viability and Poorer Prognosis in Neuroblastoma and Ewing Sarcoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15242. [PMID: 37894922 PMCID: PMC10607632 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in epigenetic programming have been proposed as being key events in the initiation and progression of childhood cancers. HMT euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2 (G9a, EHMT2), which is encoded by the G9a (Ehmt2) gene, as well as its related protein GLP, which is encoded by the GLP/Ehmt1 gene, participate in epigenetic regulation by contributing to a transcriptionally repressed chromatin state. G9a/GLP activation has been reported in several cancer types. Herein, we evaluated the role of G9a in two solid pediatric tumors: neuroblastoma (NB) and Ewing sarcoma (ES). Our results show that G9a/Ehmt2 and GLP/Ehmt1 expression is higher in tumors with poorer prognosis, including St4 International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage, MYCN amplified NB, and metastatic ES. Importantly, higher G9a and GLP levels were associated with shorter patient overall survival (OS) in both NB and ES. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of G9a/GLP reduced cell viability in NB and ES cells. These findings suggest that G9a and GLP are associated with more aggressive NB and ES tumors and should be further investigated as being epigenetic targets in pediatric solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Kunzler Souza
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Epigenica Biosciences, Canoas 92035-000, Brazil;
| | - Natalia Hogetop Freire
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre 90620-110, Brazil
| | | | - Alice Laschuk Herlinger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Mariane Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Matheus G. S. Dalmolin
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Lauro Gregianin
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre 90620-110, Brazil
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Pediatric Oncology Service, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
| | - André T. Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Algemir L. Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Carol J. Thiele
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil (A.T.B.)
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children’s Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology—INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
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