Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Jumonji AT-rich Interactive Domain 1B (JARID1B) Histone Demethylase by a Sensitive High Throughput Screen

JARID1B (also known as KDM5B or PLU1) is a member of the JARID1 family of histone lysine demethylases responsible for the demethylation of trimethylated lysine 27 in histone H3 (H3K4me3), a mark for actively transcribed genes. JARID1B is overexpressed in several cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. In addition, JARID1B is required for mammary tumor formation in syngeneic or xenograft mouse models. JARID1B-expressing melanoma cells are associated with increased self-renewal character. Therefore, JARID1B represents an attractive target for cancer therapy. Here we characterized JARID1B using a homogeneous luminescence-based demethylase assay. We then conducted a high throughput screen of over 15,000 small molecules to identify inhibitors of JARID1B. From this screen, we identified several known JmjC histone demethylase inhibitors, including 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid and catechols. More importantly, we identified several novel inhibitors, including 2-4(4-methylphenyl)-1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (PBIT), which inhibits JARID1B with an IC₅₀ of about 3 μm in vitro. Consistent with this, PBIT treatment inhibited removal of H3K4me3 by JARID1B in cells. Furthermore, this compound inhibited proliferation of cells expressing higher levels of JARID1B. These results suggest that this novel small molecule inhibitor is a lead compound that can be further optimized for cancer therapy.     

DNA methylation-regulated miR-193a-3p dictates resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma to 5-fluorouracil via repression of SRSF2 expression

Chemoresistance prevents effective cancer therapy and is rarely predictable prior to treatment, particularly for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Following the chemoresistance profiling of eight HCC cell lines to each of nine chemotherapeutics, two cell lines (QGY-7703 as a sensitive and SMMC-7721 as a resistant cell line to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment) were systematically studied for mechanistic insights underpinning HCC 5-FU chemoresistance. Genomic profiling at both DNA methylation and microRNA (miR) levels and subsequent mechanistic studies illustrate a new mechanism for how DNA methylation-regulated miR-193a-3p dictates the 5-FU resistance of HCC cells via repression of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 2 (SRSF2) expression. In turn, SRSF2 preferentially up-regulates the proapoptotic splicing form of caspase 2 (CASP2L) and sensitizes HCC cells to 5-FU. Forced changes of miR-193a-3p level reverse all of the phenotypic features examined, including cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and 5-FU sensitivity, in cell culture and in nude mice. Importantly, the siRNA-mediated repression of SRSF2 phenocopies all of the miR-193a-3p mimic-triggered changes in QGY-7703. This newly identified miR-193a-3p-SRSF2 axis highlights a new set of companion diagnostics required for optimal 5-FU therapy of HCC, which involve assaying both the DNA methylation state of the miR-193a gene and the expression of miR-193a-3p and SRSF2 and the relative level of the proapoptotic versus antiapoptotic splicing forms of caspase 2 in clinical samples.     

人乳头瘤病毒16E6基因通过增加HMGB1表达调节口腔癌CAL27细胞侵袭的实验研究

人乳头瘤病毒16型(Human papillomavirus type 16,HPV16)感染与口腔癌、宫颈癌的发病有关,HPV16 E6基因编码的蛋白是重要的癌蛋白,已经被证实能够通过增加高迁移率族蛋白B1(High mobility group box-B1,HMGB1)表达来促进宫颈癌细胞的侵袭,但是否能调控口腔癌细胞的侵袭仍未明确。为研究HPV16 E6基因通过增加HMGB1表达调节口腔癌CAL27细胞侵袭的作用,口腔癌CAL27细胞被分为对照组、空白质粒组、HPV16 E6质粒组、NC-si RNA组(短片断干扰RNA阴性对照组)、NC-si RNA+HPV16 E6质粒组、HMGB1-si RNA+HPV16E6质粒组,检测细胞中HPV16 E6及HMGB1的表达、细胞的侵袭数目、培养基中HMGB1的含量。结果显示,HPV16 E6质粒组细胞中HPV16 E6及HMGB1的表达量、培养基中HMBG1的含量、细胞的侵袭数目均高于对照组及空白质粒组(P<0.05);HMGB1-si RNA组细胞中HMGB1的表达量明显低于对照组及NC-si RNA组(P<0.05);NC-si RNA+HPV16 E6质粒组的细胞侵袭数目均明显高于NC-si RNA组(P<0.05),HMGB1-si RNA+HPV16 E6质粒组的细胞侵袭数目均明显低于NC-si RNA+HPV16 E6质粒组(P<0.05)。本研究提示,HPV16 E6基因能够促进口腔癌CAL27细胞的侵袭且这一作用与增加HMGB1表达有关。     

双股寡聚d(G-C)6 DNA Z-构象的形成及其构象转换的动态研究

研究揭示,生物信息的形成,传递与DNA构象的多样性,特别是其中的左手螺旋Z-构象DNA（Z-DNA）相关.在机体DNA链中,普遍存在的特异序列结构d（C-G）n和d（G-C）n片段易形成Z-构象.但对d（G-C）n序列结构的寡聚体Oligo-d（G-C）n,（n小于8）能转换形成Z-DNA片段少见报道.为促进对Z-DNA尤其是其中的短片段Z-DNA与生物功能的相关性研究,我们对合成并纯化后的寡聚体Oligo-d（G-C）n,n分别为4,6,8,10, 及Oligo-d（C-G）6和多聚体poly-d（G-C）500-900进行Z-构象的形成和其构象转换的比较研究.研究结果发现：①d（GpCpGpCpGpCpGpCpGpCpGpC）是d（G-C）n序列结构中能转换形成Z-构象的最短片段（n＝6）.其转换成Z-构象能力有链长依赖性（poly d（G-C）500-900易于Oligo-d（G-C）6）;②Oligo-d（G-C）6的Z-构象形成能力因溶液中的介质性质不同而异.Co（NH3）3＋〉Mg2＋〉Na＋;C1O-4〉Cl-,因此要求盐溶液的浓度差异很大.③PH7.2,室温条件下,在MgCl2, NaClO4, NaCl溶液浓度分别由0 mol/L增至6.0 mol/L,Oligo-d（G-C）6的B、Z构象转换都出现：B-构象相对稳定期,B-、Z-构象转换跃迁期和Z-构象相对稳定期.每个阶段要求跨越的盐浓度变迁范围也因所用介质而异.当溶液中Oligo-d（G-C）6 B-构象、Z-构象各占50%（θ1/2）时,其盐浓度分别为1.72 mol/L（MgCl2）,2.88 mol/L（NaClO4）,3.85 mol/L（NaCl）.④Oligo-d（G-C）6的B-,Z-构象转换程度受盐浓度影响：当Oligo-d（G-C）6处于最适条件和不同盐溶液其浓度为θ（12）浓度时,温度由8 ℃→22 ℃,在MgCl2,NaClO4溶液中的Oligo-d（G-C）6形成Z-构象能力增加,当由22 ℃→60 ℃,MgCl2溶液中的Z-构象Oligo-d（G-C）6加速增加,而在NaClO4溶液中则是急速向B-型Oligo-d（G-C）6方向转换;温度变化对处于NaCl溶液中的Oligo-d（G-C）6B-、Z-构象相对平衡影响较小.⑤甲基化胞嘧啶即Oligo-d（G-mC）6或d（mC-G）6均增大Z-构象形成能力.⑥在4 mol/L MgCl2溶液中的Oligo-d（G-C）6或Oligo-d（C-G）6或poly d（G-C）500-900的UVab谱、UVcd谱均显示出非B-型或Z-型DNA的新谱型.并且有链长依赖性和因溶液浓度改变出现构象可逆性转变.提示在Oligo-d（G-C）6的构象转换过程中可能存在新构象＂X＂型,即BZX构象转换模式.     

Elevation of highly up-regulated in liver cancer (HULC) by hepatitis B virus X protein promotes hepatoma cell proliferation via down-regulating p18

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in human cancers. It has been reported that lncRNA highly up-regulated in liver cancer (HULC) is dramatically up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) contributes importantly to the development of HCC. However, the function of HULC in HCC mediated by HBx remains unclear. Here, we report that HULC is involved in HBx-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis. We found that the expression levels of HULC were positively correlated with those of HBx in clinical HCC tissues. Moreover, we revealed that HBx up-regulated HULC in human immortalized normal liver L-O2 cells and hepatoma HepG2 cells. Luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that HBx activated the HULC promoter via cAMP-responsive element-binding protein. We further demonstrated that HULC promoted cell proliferation by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, colony formation assay, and tumorigenicity assay. Next, we hypothesized that HULC might function through regulating a tumor suppressor gene p18 located near HULC in the same chromosome. We found that the mRNA levels of p18 were inversely correlated with those of HULC in the above clinical HCC specimens. Then, we validated that HULC down-regulated p18, which was involved in the HULC-enhanced cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we observed that knockdown of HULC could abolish the HBx-enhanced cell proliferation through up-regulating p18. Thus, we conclude that the up-regulated HULC by HBx promotes proliferation of hepatoma cells through suppressing p18. This finding provides new insight into the roles of lncRNAs in HBx-related hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Elevated Protein Kinase D3 (PKD3) Expression Supports Proliferation of Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cells and Contributes to mTORC1-S6K1 Pathway Activation

Here, we show that the expression of the Golgi-localized serine-threonine kinase protein kinase D3 (PKD3) is elevated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Using an antibody array, we identified PKD3 to trigger the activation of S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), a main downstream target of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway. Accordingly, PKD3 knockdown in TNBC cells led to reduced S6K1 phosphorylation, which was associated with impaired activation of mTORC1 at endolysosomal membranes, the accumulation of the mannose 6-phosphate receptor in and the recruitment of the autophagy marker light chain 3 to enlarged acidic vesicles. We further show that PKD3 depletion strongly inhibited cell spreading and proliferation of TNBC cells, identifying this kinase as a potential novel molecular therapeutic target in TNBC. Together, our data suggest that PKD3 in TNBC cells provides a molecular connection between the Golgi and endolysosomal compartments to enhance proliferative mTORC1-S6K1 signaling.     

Vitamin B6-deficient diet plus 4-deoxypyridoxine (4-DPD) reduces the inflammatory response induced by T. spiralis in diaphragm,masseter and heart muscle tissue of mice

Animals fed diets deficient in vitamin B6 develop microcytic anemia, alterations of growth, and other pathologies. 4-deoxypirydoxine is a potent antagonist of vitamin B6 coenzyme which depresses IL-1, TNF and IL-6 and has anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to show the anti-infl ammatory effects of 4-DPD on chronic inflammation caused by the nematode parasite T. spiralis, specifically on the recruitment and the activation of inflammatory cells. Two groups of mice, 6 weeks of age, were used: one was maintained on a vitamin B6-deficient synthetic pellet diet for 15 days before injection of the nematode, and administered an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 4-DPD (250 g/mouse) for 15 days (the first, 5 days before infection), and the second group was maintained on a normal diet for the total duration of the experiment. These two groups were then injected with 150 larvae (L1-T. spiralis) per os.Chronic inflammation was caused by infection of treated or untreated mice with T. spiralis parasite. After 14 days post-infection all mice developed a chronic inflammatory response. Mice fed with a B6-deficient diet showed a significant decrease in the number of cysts found in the diaphragm when compared to mice treated with normal diet. In addition, in all mice treated with vitamin B6-deficient diet plus 4-DPD the average body weight was significantly lower, compared to the mice on normal diet in all weeks examined. Moreover, in sections of the diaphragm, masseter and miocardium muscles, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, such as macrophages, lymphocytes, and eosinophils were more intense in untreated mice compared to those fed a vitamin B6-deficient diet.These results show that BALB/c mice infected with T. spiralis and fed a vitamin B6-deficient diet plus the vitamin B6 antagonist, 4-DPD, prolong the time of invasion of the larvae in the muscle cells, influence the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the intensity of the inflammatory reaction compared to infected untreated mice (control)