Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying the Dynamic Expression of Cancer-Testis Genes, PAGE2,-2B and SPANX-B, during Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition
Author(s)
Date
2014Source Title
PLoS ONE
Print ISSN
1932-6203
Publisher
pone
Volume
9
Issue
9
Pages
107905-1 - 107905-11
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
Cancer-testis (CT) genes are expressed in various cancers but not in normal tissues other than in cells of the germline. Although DNA demethylation of promoter-proximal CpGs of CT genes is linked to their expression in cancer, the mechanisms leading to demethylation are unknown. To elucidate such mechanisms we chose to study the Caco-2 colorectal cancer cell line during the course of its spontaneous differentiation in vitro, as we found CT genes, in particular PAGE2,-2B and SPANX-B, to be up-regulated during this process. Differentiation of these cells resulted in a mesenchymal-toepithelial transition (MET) as evidenced by the gain of epithelial markers CDX2, Claudin-4 and E-cadherin, and a concomitant loss of mesenchymal markers Vimentin, Fibronectin-1 and Transgelin. PAGE2 and SPAN-X up-regulation was accompanied by an increase in Ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2) expression and cytosine 5-hydroxymethylation as well as the disassociation of heterochromatin protein 1 and the polycomb repressive complex 2 protein EZH2 from promoter-proximal regions of these genes. Reversal of differentiation resulted in down-regulation of PAGE2,-2B and SPANX-B, and induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, demonstrating the dynamic nature of CT gene regulation in this model. © 2014 Yilmaz-Ozcan et al.
Keywords
In-vitroDna Methylation
Cancer/testis Antigens
Myeloma Cells
Es Cells
Differentiation
Caco-2
5-hydroxymethylcytosine
Demethylation
5-methylcytosine