Histone methyltransferase KMT2D sustains prostate carcinogenesis and metastasis via epigenetically activating LIFR and KLF4

Oncogene. 2018 Mar;37(10):1354-1368. doi: 10.1038/s41388-017-0026-x. Epub 2017 Dec 22.

Abstract

Abnormalities in epigenetic modifiers are emerging as driving events in prostate cancer (PCa). The histone methyltransferase KMT2D, a frequently aberrant epigenetic modifier in various tumors, has an undefined role in PCa. Moreover, little is known regarding KMT2D's mutation in Chinese patients or its downstream signaling pathways and targets. Here, we profiled the mutational spectrum of 32 significantly PCa-associated genes by using disease-targeted sequencing, and found that KMT2D was highly mutated (63.04%, 29/46) in Chinese patients. Moreover, high KMT2D transcription was also associated with poor prognosis in an independent cohort (n = 51). In KMT2D-knockdown PC-3 and DU145 cells, cell proliferation (P < 0.01), invasion (P < 0.001), and migration (P < 0.01) were consequently suppressed. KMT2D depletion effectively suppressed tumor growth by 92.21% in vivo. Notably, integrative analyses of RNAseq and ChIPseq characterized two crucial genes downregulated by KMT2D, leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) and Kruppel-like factor-4 (KLF4), which are regulators in PI3K/Akt and EMT, respectively. Our present study revealed that KMT2D epigenetically activates PI3K/Akt pathway and EMT by targeting LIFR and KLF4 and thus serves as a putative epigenetic-based target for treating PCa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / physiology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • PC-3 Cells
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • KLF4 protein, human
  • KMT2D protein, human
  • Klf4 protein, mouse
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • LIFR protein, human
  • Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Neoplasm Proteins