DNA Methylation-Dependent Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

To identify epigenetically-regulated genes in breast cancer, MCF-7 cells were exposed to 250nM 5-aza or 5-aza + 50nM TSA for 3 weeks followed by a 5 week recovery period after treatment withdrawal and gene expression patterns were examined by microarray analysis. We identified 20 genes that are associated with a >2-fold increase in expression in response to the demethylating treatment but returned to control levels after treatment withdrawal. RT-PCR verified that the genes identified were expressed at low or undetectable levels in control MCF-7 cells, but increased expression in treated cells. Most of these putative epigentically-regulated genes in MCF-7 cells do not contain CpG islands. In fact, these genes could be classified based upon their promoter CpG features, including genes with: (i) typical CpG features (CpG islands), (ii) intermediate CpG features (weak CpG islands), and (iii) atypical CpG features (no CpG islands). Prototype genes from each class (including CpG-deficient genes) were shown to be methylation-sensitive (subject to CpG methylation and responsive to demethylating agents), suggesting that not all gene targets of DNA methylation in breast cancer will contain a CpG island. Based upon the results of the current study and observations from the literature, we propose expansion of the current model for methylation-dependent regulation of gene expression to include genes lacking typical CpG islands. The expanded model we propose recognizes that all promoter CpG dinucleotides represent legitimate targets for DNA methylation and that the methylation of specific CpG dinucleotides in critical domains of regulatory regions can result in gene silencing.      

Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of TOX3 Expression in Breast Cancer

Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified low penetrance and high frequency single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that contribute to genetic susceptibility of breast cancer. The SNPs at 16q12, close to the TOX3 and CASC16 genes, represent one of the susceptibility loci identified by GWAS, showing strong evidence for breast cancer association across various populations. To examine molecular mechanisms of TOX3 regulation in breast cancer, we investigated both genetic and epigenetic factors using cell lines and datasets derived from primary breast tumors available through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). TOX3 expression is highly up-regulated in luminal subtype tumors compared to normal breast tissues or basal-like tumors. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses revealed significant associations of rs3803662 and rs4784227 genotypes with TOX3 expression in breast tumors. Bisulfite sequencing of four CpG islands in the TOX3 promoter showed a clear difference between luminal and basal-like cancer cell lines. 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine treatment of a basal-like cancer cell line increased expression of TOX3. TCGA dataset verified significantly lower levels of methylation of the promoter in luminal breast tumors with an inverse correlation between methylation and expression of TOX3. Methylation QTL (mQTL) analyses showed a weak or no correlation of rs3803662 or rs4784227 with TOX3 promoter methylation in breast tumors, indicating an independent relationship between the genetic and epigenetic events. These data suggest a complex system of TOX3 regulation in breast tumors, driven by germline variants and somatic epigenetic modifications in a subtype specific manner.     

氧化还原调控的表观遗传修饰在乳腺癌中的作用

乳腺癌是影响女性健康最主要的恶性肿瘤之一．表观遗传修饰及活性氧(ROS)过度积累引起的氧化应激在乳腺癌发生发展中起关键作用,表观遗传修饰与ROS的生成和清除相互影响．本文通过对目前有关表观遗传修饰和ROS参与乳腺癌的发生发展进行综述,为寻求乳腺癌发生发展的生物标志物及精准治疗提供思路．     

神经系统特异表达基因调控机理的研究进展

神经系统特异性基因正确的时空表达受细胞内外信号的调控,信号传导途径最终的靶位点是能结合特异转录因子的DNA序列.目前发现的决定神经系统基因特异性表达的顺式作用元件既有增强子,也有沉默子.它们可以特异性地增强基因在神经系统的表达,或特异性抑制基因在非神经系统的表达. 顺式元件要发挥这些作用,依赖于与其结合的反式因子,而这些反式因子又能与其他蛋白质或DNA序列发生互动, 通过协调作用,共同决定基因的时空表达顺序.     

O-GlcNAc and the Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression

O-GlcNAcylation is an abundant nutrient-driven modification linked to cellular signaling and regulation of gene expression. Utilizing precursors derived from metabolic flux, O-GlcNAc functions as a homeostatic regulator. The enzymes of O-GlcNAc cycling, OGT and O-GlcNAcase, act in mitochondria, the cytoplasm, and the nucleus in association with epigenetic “writers” and “erasers” of the histone code. Both O-GlcNAc and O-phosphate modify repeats within the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD). By communicating with the histone and CTD codes, O-GlcNAc cycling provides a link between cellular metabolic status and the epigenetic machinery. Thus, O-GlcNAcylation is poised to influence trans-generational epigenetic inheritance.     

Constitutive Expression and Regulation of Collagenase-3 in Human Breast Cancer Cells

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of secreted or transmembrane proteins that have been implicated in multiple physiological and pathological processes related to extracellular matrix turnover. Recent evidence strongly suggests a role for collagenase-3 (MMP-13) in tumor metastasis and invasion. We report here that collagenase-3 is constitutively expressed in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB231 (MDA) and outline the molecular mechanism regulating its expression. Functional analysis of the collagenase-3 promoter showed that both the activator protein-1 (AP-1) site and the runt domain (RD) binding site were required for maximal constitutive expression of collagenase-3 in MDA cells. Determination of factors binding to those sites by Northern analysis and transient transfections identified the requirement of Fra-1, c-Jun, and Cbfa1 for basal collagenase-3 promoter activity in MDA cells.     

HIV-1基因表达的转录调控

高效抗逆转录病毒治疗（HAART）可以有效地抑制人类免疫缺陷病毒Ⅰ型（HIV-1）的复制及血浆病毒载量,延缓发病进程,改善、提高患者的生活质量和存活时间。但是,一旦停止治疗就会导致血浆病毒血症迅速反弹,HIV-1以原病毒的形式在静息记忆CD4⁺T等细胞中的持续存在是清除HIV-1的一个障碍。HIV-1基因转录的激活与阻抑决定了受感染细胞进入产毒性感染或潜伏感染。本文从原病毒整合位置与转录干扰、细胞转录因子与HIV-1启动子相互作用招募RNA聚合酶起始转录、转录的表观遗传调控和反式激活因子Tat及其相关蛋白促进转录延伸等方面探讨了HIV-1原病毒转录调控机制。     

GSTs同工酶基因在乳腺癌中的扩增与基因的表达

采用ＤＮＡ和ＲＮＡ的斑点杂交分析方法,对３２例乳腺癌和相应的癌旁正常组织中ＧＳＴ－π、ＧＳＴ－α和ＧＳＴ－μ基因的ＤＮＡ扩增和ＲＮＡ转录表达情况进行研究,发现ＧＳＴ－π在乳腺癌中存在基因扩增和明显的ｍＲＮＡ表达升高,ＧＳＴ－π基因表达调控主要在转录水平进行的;ＧＳＴ－α和ＧＳＴ－μ在乳腺癌中表达水平较低,但仍可见α和μ类ＧＳＴ同工酶ｍＲＮＡ转录在肿瘤和正常组织中发生了较大的变化。结合乳腺癌中雌激素受体（ＥＲ）表达情况还发现ＧＳＴ－π表达水平与ＥＲ的表达存在负相关性。     

Epigenetic Regulation Disturbances on Gene Expression in Imprinting Diseases

Molecular Biology - Epigenetic regulation is hereditary and non-hereditary changes in the expression of a particular gene without any corresponding structural changes in its nucleotide sequence....     

曲普瑞林对人乳腺癌细胞Fas/FasL基因表达的影响

为了观察GnRH激动剂曲普瑞林对人乳腺癌细胞生长的影响,探讨药物处理后细胞中Fas和Fas L基因的表达情况及其与细胞生长的关系,本研究采用了形态学显微镜观察、MTT检测和Real-time PCR技术,对曲普瑞林处理后乳腺癌细胞的生长增殖情况及Fas和Fas L基因表达的变化进行了研究。结果显示,曲普瑞林可抑制乳腺癌细胞MCF-7的生长并表现出了剂量依赖性,药物浓度越大对肿瘤细胞的抑制作用越强。随着药物浓度的增大、抑制作用增强,肿瘤细胞中Fas基因的表达量逐渐增大,而Fas L基因的表达量却逐渐下降。推测曲普瑞林在作用过程中可能通过促进肿瘤细胞中Fas的表达,诱导了Fas所介导的细胞凋亡途径的恢复,达到抑制肿瘤细胞生长的目的。