RNF20 Links Histone H2B Ubiquitylation with Inflammation and Inflammation-Associated Cancer.

ABSTRACT: Factors linking inflammation and cancer are of great interest. We now report that the chromatin-targeting E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF20/RNF40, driving histone H2B monoubiquitylation (H2Bub1), modulates inflammation and inflammation-associated cancer in mice and humans. Downregulation of RNF20 and H2Bub1 favors recruitment of p65-containing nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B) dimers over repressive p50 homodimers and decreases the heterochromatin mark H3K9me3 on a subset of NF-?B target genes to augment their transcription. Concordantly, RNF20(+/-) mice are predisposed to acute and chronic colonic inflammation and inflammation-associated colorectal cancer, with excessive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that may quench antitumoral T cell activity. Notably, colons of human ulcerative colitis patients, as well as colorectal tumors, reveal downregulation of RNF20/RNF40 and H2Bub1 in both epithelium and stroma, supporting the clinical relevance of our tissue culture and mouse model findings.

SUBMITTER: Tarcic O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4761112 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature