TY - JOUR
T1 - The Epigenetic Factor KDM2B Regulates EMT and Small GTPases in Colon Tumor Cells
AU - Zacharopoulou, Nefeli
AU - Tsapara, Anna
AU - Kallergi, Galatea
AU - Schmid, Evi
AU - Alkahtani, Saad
AU - Alarifi, Saud
AU - Tsichlis, Philip N
AU - Kampranis, S.C.
AU - Stournaras, Christos
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - BACKGROUND/AIMS: The epigenetic factor KDM2B is a histone demethylase expressed in various tumors. Recently, we have shown that KDM2B regulates actin cytoskeleton organization, small Rho GTPases signaling, cell-cell adhesion and migration of prostate tumor cells. In the present study, we addressed its role in regulating EMT and small GTPases expression in colon tumor cells.METHODS: We used RT-PCR for the transcriptional analysis of various genes, Western blotting for the assessment of protein expression and immunofluorescence microscopy for visualization of fluorescently labeled proteins.RESULTS: We report here that KDM2B regulates EZH2 and BMI1 in HCT116 colon tumor cells. Knockdown of this epigenetic factor induced potent up-regulation of the protein levels of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1, while the mesenchymal marker N-cadherin was downregulated. On the other hand, KDM2B overexpression downregulated the levels of both epithelial markers and upregulated the mesenchymal marker, suggesting control of EMT by KDM2B. In addition, RhoA, RhoB and RhoC protein levels diminished upon KDM2B-knockdown, while all three small GTPases became upregulated in KDM2B-overexpressing HCT116 cell clones. Interestingly, Rac1 GTPase level increased upon KDM2B-knockdown and diminished in KDM2B-overexpressing HCT116 colon tumor- and DU-145 prostate cancer cells.CONCLUSIONS: These results establish a clear functional role of the epigenetic factor KDM2B in the regulation of EMT and small-GTPases expression in colon tumor cells and further support the recently postulated oncogenic role of this histone demethylase in various tumors.
AB - BACKGROUND/AIMS: The epigenetic factor KDM2B is a histone demethylase expressed in various tumors. Recently, we have shown that KDM2B regulates actin cytoskeleton organization, small Rho GTPases signaling, cell-cell adhesion and migration of prostate tumor cells. In the present study, we addressed its role in regulating EMT and small GTPases expression in colon tumor cells.METHODS: We used RT-PCR for the transcriptional analysis of various genes, Western blotting for the assessment of protein expression and immunofluorescence microscopy for visualization of fluorescently labeled proteins.RESULTS: We report here that KDM2B regulates EZH2 and BMI1 in HCT116 colon tumor cells. Knockdown of this epigenetic factor induced potent up-regulation of the protein levels of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1, while the mesenchymal marker N-cadherin was downregulated. On the other hand, KDM2B overexpression downregulated the levels of both epithelial markers and upregulated the mesenchymal marker, suggesting control of EMT by KDM2B. In addition, RhoA, RhoB and RhoC protein levels diminished upon KDM2B-knockdown, while all three small GTPases became upregulated in KDM2B-overexpressing HCT116 cell clones. Interestingly, Rac1 GTPase level increased upon KDM2B-knockdown and diminished in KDM2B-overexpressing HCT116 colon tumor- and DU-145 prostate cancer cells.CONCLUSIONS: These results establish a clear functional role of the epigenetic factor KDM2B in the regulation of EMT and small-GTPases expression in colon tumor cells and further support the recently postulated oncogenic role of this histone demethylase in various tumors.
KW - Colonic Neoplasms/genetics
KW - Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein/genetics
KW - Epigenesis, Genetic
KW - Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
KW - F-Box Proteins/genetics
KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
KW - HCT116 Cells
KW - Humans
KW - Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases/genetics
KW - Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics
U2 - 10.1159/000489917
DO - 10.1159/000489917
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29772566
SN - 1015-8987
VL - 47
SP - 368
EP - 377
JO - Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
JF - Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
IS - 1
ER -