Targeting NSD2-mediated SRC-3 liquid-liquid phase separation sensitizes bortezomib treatment in multiple myeloma

Nat Commun. 2021 Feb 15;12(1):1022. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21386-y.

Abstract

Development of chemoresistance is the main reason for failure of clinical management of multiple myeloma (MM), but the genetic and epigenetic aberrations that interact to confer such chemoresistance remains unknown. In the present study, we find that high steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3) expression is correlated with relapse/refractory and poor outcomes in MM patients treated with bortezomib (BTZ)-based regimens. Furthermore, in immortalized cell lines, high SRC-3 enhances resistance to proteasome inhibitor (PI)-induced apoptosis. Overexpressed histone methyltransferase NSD2 in patients bearing a t(4;14) translocation or in BTZ-resistant MM cells coordinates elevated SRC-3 by enhancing its liquid-liquid phase separation to supranormally modify histone H3 lysine 36 dimethylation (H3K36me2) modifications on promoters of anti-apoptotic genes. Targeting SRC-3 or interference of its interactions with NSD2 using a newly developed inhibitor, SI-2, sensitizes BTZ treatment and overcomes drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings elucidate a previously unrecognized orchestration of SRC-3 and NSD2 in acquired drug resistance of MM and suggest that SI-2 may be efficacious for overcoming drug resistance in MM patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Bone and Bones / drug effects
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Bone and Bones / pathology
  • Bortezomib / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics*
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Myeloma / genetics
  • Multiple Myeloma / mortality
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3 / genetics*
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3 / metabolism
  • Proteasome Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Recurrence
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Survival Analysis
  • Translocation, Genetic
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Histones
  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Bortezomib
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • NSD2 protein, human
  • NCOA3 protein, human
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3