Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
CIMP (CpG island methylator phenotype) is an epigenetic molecular subtype, observed in multiple malignancies and associated with the epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressors. Currently, for most cancers including gastric cancer (GC), mechanisms underlying CIMP remain poorly understood. We sought to discover molecular contributors to CIMP in GC, by performing global DNA methylation, gene expression, and proteomics profiling across 14 gastric cell lines, followed by similar integrative analysis in 50 GC cell lines and 467 primary GCs.Results
We identify the cystathionine beta-synthase enzyme (CBS) as a highly recurrent target of epigenetic silencing in CIMP GC. Likewise, we show that CBS epimutations are significantly associated with CIMP in various other cancers, occurring even in premalignant gastroesophageal conditions and longitudinally linked to clinical persistence. Of note, CRISPR deletion of CBS in normal gastric epithelial cells induces widespread DNA methylation changes that overlap with primary GC CIMP patterns. Reflecting its metabolic role as a gatekeeper interlinking the methionine and homocysteine cycles, CBS loss in vitro also causes reductions in the anti-inflammatory gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H2S), with concomitant increase in NF-κB activity. In a murine genetic model of CBS deficiency, preliminary data indicate upregulated immune-mediated transcriptional signatures in the stomach.Conclusions
Our results implicate CBS as a bi-faceted modifier of aberrant DNA methylation and inflammation in GC and highlights H2S donors as a potential new therapy for CBS-silenced lesions.
SUBMITTER: Padmanabhan N
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8170989 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Padmanabhan Nisha N Kyon Huang Kie HK Boot Arnoud A Lim Kevin K Srivastava Supriya S Chen Shuwen S Wu Zhiyuan Z Lee Hyung-Ok HO Mukundan Vineeth T VT Chan Charlene C Chan Yarn Kit YK Xuewen Ong O Pitt Jason J JJ Isa Zul Fazreen Adam ZFA Xing Manjie M Lee Ming Hui MH Tan Angie Lay Keng ALK Ting Shamaine Ho Wei SHW Luftig Micah A MA Kappei Dennis D Kruger Warren D WD Bian Jinsong J Ho Ying Swan YS Teh Ming M Rozen Steve George SG Tan Patrick P
Genome biology 20210601 1
<h4>Background</h4>CIMP (CpG island methylator phenotype) is an epigenetic molecular subtype, observed in multiple malignancies and associated with the epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressors. Currently, for most cancers including gastric cancer (GC), mechanisms underlying CIMP remain poorly understood. We sought to discover molecular contributors to CIMP in GC, by performing global DNA methylation, gene expression, and proteomics profiling across 14 gastric cell lines, followed by similar int ...[more]