Project description:DNA methylation is thought to induce transcriptional silencing through the combination of two mechanisms: the repulsion of transcriptional activators unable to bind their target sites when methylated, and the recruitment of transcriptional repressors with specific affinity for methylated DNA. The Methyl CpG Binding Domain proteins MeCP2, MBD1 and MBD2 belong to the latter category. Here, we present MBD2 ChIPseq data obtained from the endogenous MBD2 in an isogenic cellular model of oncogenic transformation of human mammary cells. In immortalized (HMEC-hTERT) or transformed (HMLER) cells, MBD2 was found in a large proportion of methylated regions and associated with transcriptional silencing. A redistribution of MBD2 on methylated DNA occurred during oncogenic transformation, frequently independently of local DNA methylation changes. Genes downregulated during HMEC-hTERT transformation preferentially gained MBD2 on their promoter. Furthermore, depletion of MBD2 induced an upregulation of MBD2-bound genes methylated at their promoter regions, in HMLER cells. Among the 3,160 genes downregulated in transformed cells, 380 genes were methylated at their promoter regions in both cell lines, specifically associated by MBD2 in HMLER cells, and upregulated upon MBD2 depletion in HMLER. The transcriptional MBD2-dependent downregulation occurring during oncogenic transformation was also observed in two additional models of mammary cell transformation. Thus, the dynamics of MBD2 deposition across methylated DNA regions was associated with the oncogenic transformation of human mammary cells.
Project description:DNA methylation is thought to induce a transcriptional silencing through the combination of two mechanisms: the repulsion of transcriptional activators that do not recognize their binding sites when methylated, and the recruitment of transcriptional repressors that specifically bind methylated DNA. Methyl CpG Binding Domain proteins MeCP2, MBD1 and MBD2 belong to the latter category. However, the exact contribution of each protein in the DNA methylation dependent transcriptional repression occurring during development and diseases remains elusive. Here we present MBD2 ChIPseq data generated from the endogenous protein in an isogenic cellular model of human mammary oncogenic transformation. In immortalized or transformed cells, MBD2 was found in one fourth of methylated regions and associated with transcriptional silencing. Depletion of MBD2 induces upregulations of genes bound by MBD2 and methylated in their transcriptional start site regions. MBD2 was partially redistributed on methylated DNA during oncogenic transformation, independently of DNA methylation changes. Genes downregulated during this transformation preferentially gained MBD2 binding sites on their promoter. Depletion of MBD2 in transformed cells induced the upregulation of some of these repressed genes, independently of the strategy used for the abrogation of oncosuppressive barriers. Our data confirm that MBD2 is a major interpret of DNA methylation, and show an unreported dynamic in this interpretation during oncogenic transformation. RNAseq of untreated HMEC-hTERT cells, siCtrl, siMBD2 or DAC treated HMLER cells, siCtrl or siMBD2 treated HME-ZEB1-RAS and HME-shP53-RAS cells, in duplicates.
Project description:DNA methylation is thought to induce a transcriptional silencing through the combination of two mechanisms: the repulsion of transcriptional activators that do not recognize their binding sites when methylated, and the recruitment of transcriptional repressors that specifically bind methylated DNA. Methyl CpG Binding Domain proteins MeCP2, MBD1 and MBD2 belong to the latter category. However, the exact contribution of each protein in the DNA methylation dependent transcriptional repression occurring during development and diseases remains elusive. Here we present MBD2 ChIPseq data generated from the endogenous protein in an isogenic cellular model of human mammary oncogenic transformation. In immortalized or transformed cells, MBD2 was found in one fourth of methylated regions and associated with transcriptional silencing. Depletion of MBD2 induces upregulations of genes bound by MBD2 and methylated in their transcriptional start site regions. MBD2 was partially redistributed on methylated DNA during oncogenic transformation, independently of DNA methylation changes. Genes downregulated during this transformation preferentially gained MBD2 binding sites on their promoter. Depletion of MBD2 in transformed cells induced the upregulation of some of these repressed genes, independently of the strategy used for the abrogation of oncosuppressive barriers. Our data confirm that MBD2 is a major interpret of DNA methylation, and show an unreported dynamic in this interpretation during oncogenic transformation. MBD2 ChIP and input, Methylated DNA precipitation and input, in HMEC-hTERT and HMLER cell lines
Project description:DNA methylation is thought to induce a transcriptional silencing through the combination of two mechanisms: the repulsion of transcriptional activators that do not recognize their binding sites when methylated, and the recruitment of transcriptional repressors that specifically bind methylated DNA. Methyl CpG Binding Domain proteins MeCP2, MBD1 and MBD2 belong to the latter category. However, the exact contribution of each protein in the DNA methylation dependent transcriptional repression occurring during development and diseases remains elusive. Here we present MBD2 ChIPseq data generated from the endogenous protein in an isogenic cellular model of human mammary oncogenic transformation. In immortalized or transformed cells, MBD2 was found in one fourth of methylated regions and associated with transcriptional silencing. Depletion of MBD2 induces upregulations of genes bound by MBD2 and methylated in their transcriptional start site regions. MBD2 was partially redistributed on methylated DNA during oncogenic transformation, independently of DNA methylation changes. Genes downregulated during this transformation preferentially gained MBD2 binding sites on their promoter. Depletion of MBD2 in transformed cells induced the upregulation of some of these repressed genes, independently of the strategy used for the abrogation of oncosuppressive barriers. Our data confirm that MBD2 is a major interpret of DNA methylation, and show an unreported dynamic in this interpretation during oncogenic transformation. Methylated DNA precipitation (MeDP) and Endogenous MBD2 Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (MBD2 ChIP) followed by hight-througput sequencing in HMEC-hTERT and HMLER cells.
Project description:DNA methylation is thought to induce a transcriptional silencing through the combination of two mechanisms: the repulsion of transcriptional activators that do not recognize their binding sites when methylated, and the recruitment of transcriptional repressors that specifically bind methylated DNA. Methyl CpG Binding Domain proteins MeCP2, MBD1 and MBD2 belong to the latter category. However, the exact contribution of each protein in the DNA methylation dependent transcriptional repression occurring during development and diseases remains elusive. Here we present MBD2 ChIPseq data generated from the endogenous protein in an isogenic cellular model of human mammary oncogenic transformation. In immortalized or transformed cells, MBD2 was found in one fourth of methylated regions and associated with transcriptional silencing. Depletion of MBD2 induces upregulations of genes bound by MBD2 and methylated in their transcriptional start site regions. MBD2 was partially redistributed on methylated DNA during oncogenic transformation, independently of DNA methylation changes. Genes downregulated during this transformation preferentially gained MBD2 binding sites on their promoter. Depletion of MBD2 in transformed cells induced the upregulation of some of these repressed genes, independently of the strategy used for the abrogation of oncosuppressive barriers. Our data confirm that MBD2 is a major interpret of DNA methylation, and show an unreported dynamic in this interpretation during oncogenic transformation.
Project description:DNA methylation is thought to induce a transcriptional silencing through the combination of two mechanisms: the repulsion of transcriptional activators that do not recognize their binding sites when methylated, and the recruitment of transcriptional repressors that specifically bind methylated DNA. Methyl CpG Binding Domain proteins MeCP2, MBD1 and MBD2 belong to the latter category. However, the exact contribution of each protein in the DNA methylation dependent transcriptional repression occurring during development and diseases remains elusive. Here we present MBD2 ChIPseq data generated from the endogenous protein in an isogenic cellular model of human mammary oncogenic transformation. In immortalized or transformed cells, MBD2 was found in one fourth of methylated regions and associated with transcriptional silencing. Depletion of MBD2 induces upregulations of genes bound by MBD2 and methylated in their transcriptional start site regions. MBD2 was partially redistributed on methylated DNA during oncogenic transformation, independently of DNA methylation changes. Genes downregulated during this transformation preferentially gained MBD2 binding sites on their promoter. Depletion of MBD2 in transformed cells induced the upregulation of some of these repressed genes, independently of the strategy used for the abrogation of oncosuppressive barriers. Our data confirm that MBD2 is a major interpret of DNA methylation, and show an unreported dynamic in this interpretation during oncogenic transformation.
Project description:DNA methylation is thought to induce a transcriptional silencing through the combination of two mechanisms: the repulsion of transcriptional activators that do not recognize their binding sites when methylated, and the recruitment of transcriptional repressors that specifically bind methylated DNA. Methyl CpG Binding Domain proteins MeCP2, MBD1 and MBD2 belong to the latter category. However, the exact contribution of each protein in the DNA methylation dependent transcriptional repression occurring during development and diseases remains elusive. Here we present MBD2 ChIPseq data generated from the endogenous protein in an isogenic cellular model of human mammary oncogenic transformation. In immortalized or transformed cells, MBD2 was found in one fourth of methylated regions and associated with transcriptional silencing. Depletion of MBD2 induces upregulations of genes bound by MBD2 and methylated in their transcriptional start site regions. MBD2 was partially redistributed on methylated DNA during oncogenic transformation, independently of DNA methylation changes. Genes downregulated during this transformation preferentially gained MBD2 binding sites on their promoter. Depletion of MBD2 in transformed cells induced the upregulation of some of these repressed genes, independently of the strategy used for the abrogation of oncosuppressive barriers. Our data confirm that MBD2 is a major interpret of DNA methylation, and show an unreported dynamic in this interpretation during oncogenic transformation.
Project description:The physical microenvironment of tumor cells plays an important role in cancer initiation and progression. Here, we present evidence that confinement - a new physical parameter that is apart from matrix stiffness - can also induce malignant transformation in mammary epithelial cells. We discovered that MCF10A cells, a benign mammary cell line that forms growth-arrested polarized acini in Matrigel, transforms into cancer-like cells within the same Matrigel material following confinement in alginate shell hydrogel microcapsules. The confined cells exhibited a range of tumor-like behaviors, including uncontrolled cellular proliferation and invasion. Additionally, 4-6 weeks after transplantation into the mammary fad pads of immunocompromised mice, the confined cells formed large palpable masses that exhibited histological features similar to that of carcinomas. Taken together, our findings suggest that physical confinement represents a previously unrecognized mechanism for malignancy induction in mammary epithelial cells and also provide a new, microcapsule-based, high throughput model system for testing new breast cancer therapeutics.
Project description:Whether the human tumor virus, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), promotes breast cancer remains controversial and a potential mechanism has remained elusive. Here we show that EBV can infect primary mammary epithelial cells (MECs) that express the receptor CD21. EBV infection leads to the expansion of early MEC progenitor cells with a stem cell phenotype, activates MET signaling and enforces a differentiation block. When MECs were implanted as xenografts, EBV infection cooperated with activated Ras and accelerated the formation of breast cancer. Infection in EBV-related tumors was of a latency type II pattern, similar to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A human gene expression signature for MECs infected with EBV, termed EBVness, was associated with high grade, estrogen-receptor-negative status, p53 mutation and poor survival. In 11/33 EBVness-positive tumors, EBV-DNA was detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization for the viral LMP1 and BXLF2 genes. In an analysis of the TCGA breast cancer data EBVness correlated with the presence of the APOBEC mutational signature. We conclude that a contribution of EBV to breast cancer etiology is plausible, through a mechanism in which EBV infection predisposes mammary epithelial cells to malignant transformation, but is no longer required once malignant transformation has occurred.
Project description:Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1/Grm1) is a member of the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily, which was once thought to only participate in synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability, but has more recently been implicated in non-neuronal tissue functions. We previously described the oncogenic properties of Grm1 in cultured melanocytes in vitro and in spontaneous melanoma development with 100 % penetrance in vivo. Aberrant mGluR1 expression was detected in 60-80 % of human melanoma cell lines and biopsy samples. As most human cancers are of epithelial origin, we utilized immortalized mouse mammary epithelial cells (iMMECs) as a model system to study the transformative properties of Grm1. We introduced Grm1 into iMMECs and isolated several stable mGluR1-expressing clones. Phenotypic alterations in mammary acinar architecture were assessed using three-dimensional morphogenesis assays. We found that mGluR1-expressing iMMECs exhibited delayed lumen formation in association with decreased central acinar cell death, disrupted cell polarity, and a dramatic increase in the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Orthotopic implantation of mGluR1-expressing iMMEC clones into mammary fat pads of immunodeficient nude mice resulted in mammary tumor formation in vivo. Persistent mGluR1 expression was required for the maintenance of the tumorigenic phenotypes in vitro and in vivo, as demonstrated by an inducible Grm1-silencing RNA system. Furthermore, mGluR1 was found be expressed in human breast cancer cell lines and breast tumor biopsies. Elevated levels of extracellular glutamate were observed in mGluR1-expressing breast cancer cell lines and concurrent treatment of MCF7 xenografts with glutamate release inhibitor, riluzole, and an AKT inhibitor led to suppression of tumor progression. Our results are likely relevant to human breast cancer, highlighting a putative role of mGluR1 in the pathophysiology of breast cancer and the potential of mGluR1 as a novel therapeutic target.