Cited by 131Epigenetics and DNA MethylationHepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and PrognosisCancer-related gene regulation

Dual Targeting of Histone Methyltransferase G9a and DNA‐Methyltransferase 1 for the Treatment of Experimental Hepatocellular Carcinoma

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Bárcena‐Varela, Marina, Caruso, Stefano, Llerena, Susana, Álvarez‐Sola, Gloria, Uriarte, Iker, Latasa, M. Ujue, Urtasun, Raquel, Rebouissou, Sandra +18 more·2019·Hepatology

Abstract

Epigenetic modifications such as DNA and histone methylation functionally cooperate in fostering tumor growth, including that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pharmacological targeting of these mechanisms may open new therapeutic avenues. We aimed to determine the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanism of action of our dual G9a histone‐methyltransferase and DNA‐methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) inhibitor in human HCC cells and their crosstalk with fibrogenic cells. The expression of G9a and DNMT1, along with that of their molecular adaptor ubiquitin‐like with PHD and RING finger domains‐1 (UHRF1), was measured in human HCCs (n = 268), peritumoral tissues (n = 154), and HCC cell lines (n = 32). We evaluated the effect of individual and combined inhibition of G9a and DNMT1 on HCC cell growth by pharmacological and genetic approaches. The activity of our lead compound, CM‐272, was examined in HCC cells under normoxia and hypoxia, human hepatic stellate cells and LX2 cells, and xenograft tumors formed by HCC or combined HCC+LX2 cells. We found a significant and correlative overexpression of G9a, DNMT1, and UHRF1 in HCCs in association with poor prognosis. Independent G9a and DNMT1 pharmacological targeting synergistically inhibited HCC cell growth. CM‐272 potently reduced HCC and LX2 cells proliferation and quelled tumor growth, particularly in HCC+LX2 xenografts. Mechanistically, CM‐272 inhibited the metabolic adaptation of HCC cells to hypoxia and induced a differentiated phenotype in HCC and fibrogenic cells. The expression of the metabolic tumor suppressor gene fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase (FBP1), epigenetically repressed in HCC, was restored by CM‐272. Conclusion: Combined targeting of G9a/DNMT1 with compounds such as CM‐272 is a promising strategy for HCC treatment. Our findings also underscore the potential of differentiation therapy in HCC.

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  • Other epigenetic regulators, including MECP2, EZH1/2, BRD4, SIRT1, KDM4D, and TET3, can contribute to chemically induced liver fibrosis.

    “Other epigenetic regulators, such as methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), enhancer of zeste homolog 1/2 (EZH1/2), bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), lysine-specific demethylase 4D (KDM4D), and tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 3 (TET3), can contribute to chemically-induced liver fibrosis (174-178) (179, 180) (181).”

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Authors
Bárcena‐Varela, M., Caruso, S., Llerena, S., Álvarez‐Sola, G., Uriarte, I., Latasa, M. U., Urtasun, R., Rebouissou, S., Alvarez, L., Jimenez, M., Santamaría, E., Rodriguez‐Ortigosa, C., Mazza, G., Rombouts, K., San José‐Eneriz, E., Rabal, O., Agirre, X., Iraburu, M., Santos‐Laso, A., Banales, J. M., Zucman‐Rossi, J., Prósper, F., Oyarzabal, J., Berasain, C., Ávila, M. A., & Fernández‐Barrena, M. G.
Affiliations
  • Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (ES)
  • Inserm (FR)
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
  • Hepatology Program,Cima‐University of Navarra,Pamplona,Spain
  • University College London (GB)
  • Oncohematology Program,Cima‐University of Navarra,Pamplona,Spain
  • Navarre Institute of Health Research (ES)
  • Department of Biochemistry and Genetics,University of Navarra,Pamplona,Spain
  • CIBERehd,Instituto de Salud Carlos III,Madrid,Spain
  • Molecular Therapeutics Program,Cima‐University of Navarra,Pamplona,Spain
Corresponding author
  • Berasain, Carmen
  • Fernández‐Barrena, Maite G.
Venue
Hepatology
Published
2019-01-04
Volume
69
Issue
2
Pages
587-603
ISSN
  • 0270-9139 (ISSN-L)
  • 1527-3350
OpenAlex
W2883824376
Cited by
130
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 2
FWCI
4.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Hepatology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Academica-e (Universidad Pública de Navarra) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Fundación Eugenio Rodríguez Pascual
  • Fondation Mérieux
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CON14/00129, 10.13039/501100004587, PI15/01132)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cancer-related gene regulation
Keywords
hepatocellular carcinoma, G9a, histone methyltransferase, DNMT1, DNA methyltransferases, UHRF1, hepatic stellate cells, hypoxia, cancer metabolism, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, FBP1, differentiation therapy, tumor growth inhibition, tumor xenografts
MeSH terms
DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1, Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Dogs, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Humans, Liver Neoplasms, Experimental, Male, Mice, Nude, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase, CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Hep G2 Cells, Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells

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