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Epigenetic silencing of monoallelically methylated miRNA loci in precancerous colorectal lesions.

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic silencing of protein-encoding genes is common in early-stage colorectal tumorigenesis. Less is known about the methylation-mediated silencing of genes encoding microRNAs (miRNAs), which are also important epigenetic modulators of gene expression. Using quantitative PCR, we identified 56 miRNAs that were expressed in normal colorectal mucosa and in HT29 colorectal cancer cells treated with demethylating agents but not in untreated HT29 cells, suggesting that they probably undergo methylation-induced silencing during colorectal tumorigenesis. One of these, miR-195, had recently been reported to be underexpressed in colorectal cancers and to exert tumor-suppressor effects in colorectal cancer cells. We identified the transcription start site (TSS) for primary miRNA (pri-miR)-497/195, the primary precursor that yields miR-195 and another candidate on our list, miR-497, and a single CpG island upstream to the TSS, which controls expression of both miRNAs. Combined bisulfite restriction analysis and bisulfite genomic sequencing studies revealed monoallelic methylation of this island in normal colorectal mucosa (50/50 samples) and full methylation in most colorectal adenomas (38/50; 76%). The hypermethylated precancerous lesions displayed significantly downregulated expression of both miRNAs. Similar methylation patterns were observed at two known imprinted genes, MEG3 and GNAS-AS1, which encode several of the 56 miRNAs on our list. Imprinting at these loci was lost in over half the adenomas (62% at MEG3 and 52% at GNAS-AS1). Copy-number alterations at MEG3, GNAS-AS1 and pri-miR-497/195, which are frequent in colorectal cancers, were less common in adenomas and confined to tumors displaying differential methylation at the involved locus. Our data show that somatically acquired, epigenetic changes at monoallelically methylated regions encoding miRNAs are relatively frequent in sporadic colorectal adenomas and might contribute to the onset and progression of these tumors.

SUBMITTER: Menigatti M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3740287 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Epigenetic silencing of monoallelically methylated miRNA loci in precancerous colorectal lesions.

Menigatti M M Staiano T T Manser C N CN Bauerfeind P P Komljenovic A A Robinson M M Jiricny J J Buffoli F F Marra G G

Oncogenesis 20130715

Epigenetic silencing of protein-encoding genes is common in early-stage colorectal tumorigenesis. Less is known about the methylation-mediated silencing of genes encoding microRNAs (miRNAs), which are also important epigenetic modulators of gene expression. Using quantitative PCR, we identified 56 miRNAs that were expressed in normal colorectal mucosa and in HT29 colorectal cancer cells treated with demethylating agents but not in untreated HT29 cells, suggesting that they probably undergo methy ...[more]

PMID: 23857251

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Project description:Little is known about the immunoediting process in precancerous lesions. We explored this aspect of benign colorectal adenomas with a descriptive analysis of the immune pathways and immune cells whose regulation is linked to the morphology and size of these lesions. Two series of polypoid and nonpolypoid colorectal adenomas were used in this study: 1) 84 samples (42 lesions, each with matched samples of normal mucosa) whose gene expression data were used to quantify the tumor morphology- and size-related dysregulation of immune pathways collected in the Molecular Signature Database, using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis; 2) 40 other lesions examined with immunohistochemistry to quantify the presence of immune cells in the stromal compartment. In the analysis of transcriptomic data, 429 immune pathways displayed significant differential regulation in neoplasms of different morphology and size. Most pathways were significantly upregulated or downregulated in polypoid lesions versus nonpolypoid lesions (regardless of size). Differential pathway regulation associated with lesion size was observed only in polypoid neoplasms. These findings were mirrored by tissue immunostaining with CD4, CD8, FOXP3, MHC-I, CD68, and CD163 antibodies: stromal immune cell counts (mainly T lymphocytes and macrophages) were significantly higher in polypoid lesions. Certain markers displayed significant size-related differences regardless of lesion morphology. Multivariate analysis of variance showed that the marker panel clearly discriminated between precancerous lesions of different morphologies and sizes. Statistical analysis of immunostained cell counts fully support the results of the transcriptomic data analysis: the density of infiltration of most immune cells in the stroma of polypoid precancerous lesions was significantly higher than that observed in nonpolypoid lesions. Large neoplasms also have more immune cells in their stroma than small lesions. Immunoediting in precancerous colorectal tumors may vary with lesion morphology and stage of development, and this variability could influence a given lesion's trajectory to cancer.

Project description:PurposeSerine peptidase inhibitor, Kazal type-1 (SPINK1) overexpression defines the second most recurrent and aggressive prostate cancer subtype. However, the underlying molecular mechanism and pathobiology of SPINK1 in prostate cancer remains largely unknown.Experimental designmiRNA prediction tools were employed to examine the SPINK1-3'UTR for miRNA binding. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm the SPINK1-3'UTR binding of shortlisted miR-338-5p/miR-421. Furthermore, miR-338-5p/-421-overexpressing cancer cells (SPINK1-positive) were evaluated for oncogenic properties using cell-based functional assays and a mouse xenograft model. Global gene expression profiling was performed to unravel the biological pathways altered by miR-338-5p/-421. IHC and RNA in situ hybridization were carried out on prostate cancer patients' tissue microarray for SPINK1 and EZH2 expression, respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was performed to examine EZH2 occupancy on the miR-338-5p/-421-regulatory regions. Bisulfite sequencing and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation were performed on prostate cancer cell lines and patients' specimens.ResultsWe established a critical role of miRNA-338-5p/-421 in posttranscriptional regulation of SPINK1. Ectopic expression of miRNA-338-5p/-421 in SPINK1-positive cells abrogates oncogenic properties including cell-cycle progression, stemness, and drug resistance, and shows reduced tumor burden and distant metastases in a mouse model. Importantly, we show that patients with SPINK1-positive prostate cancer exhibit increased EZH2 expression, suggesting its role in epigenetic silencing of miRNA-338-5p/-421. Furthermore, presence of CpG dinucleotide DNA methylation marks on the regulatory regions of miR-338-5p/-421 in SPINK1-positive prostate cancer cells and patients' specimens confirms epigenetic silencing.ConclusionsOur findings revealed that miRNA-338-5p/-421 are epigenetically silenced in SPINK1-positive prostate cancer, although restoring the expression of these miRNAs using epigenetic drugs or synthetic mimics could abrogate SPINK1-mediated oncogenesis.See related commentary by Bjartell, p. 2679.

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Epigenetic silencing of monoallelically methylated miRNA loci in precancerous colorectal lesions.

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Epigenetic silencing of monoallelically methylated miRNA loci in precancerous colorectal lesions.

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