Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiles of Phlegm-Dampness Constitution.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metabolic diseases are leading health concerns in today's global society. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), one body type studied is the phlegm-dampness constitution (PC), which predisposes individuals to complex metabolic disorders. Genomic studies have revealed the potential metabolic disorders and the molecular features of PC. The role of epigenetics in the regulation of PC, however, is unknown. METHODS: We analyzed a genome-wide DNA methylation in 12 volunteers using Illumina Infinium Human Methylation450 BeadChip on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Eight volunteers had PC and 4 had balanced constitutions. RESULTS: Methylation data indicated a genome-scale hyper-methylation pattern in PC. We located 288 differentially methylated probes (DMPs). A total of 256 genes were mapped, and some of these were metabolic-related. SQSTM1, DLGAP2 and DAB1 indicated diabetes mellitus; HOXC4 and SMPD3, obesity; and GRWD1 and ATP10A, insulin resistance. According to Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), differentially methylated genes were abundant in multiple metabolic pathways. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the potential risk for metabolic disorders in individuals with PC. We also explain the clinical characteristics of PC with DNA methylation features.

Immune-tumor interaction dictates spatially directed evolution of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a poor-prognostic cancer type with extensive intra- and inter-patient heterogeneity in both genomic variations and tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the patterns and drivers of spatial genomic and microenvironmental heterogeneity of ESCC remain largely unknown. Here, we generated a spatial multi-omic atlas by whole-exome, transcriptome, and methylome sequencing of 507 tumor samples from 103 patients. We identified a novel tumor suppressor PREX2, accounting for 22% of ESCCs with frequent somatic mutations or hyper-methylation, which promoted migration and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro. Analysis of the TME and quantification of subclonal expansion indicated that ESCCs undergo spatially directed evolution, where subclones mostly originated from the tumor center but had a biased clonal expansion to the upper direction of the esophagus. Interestingly, we found upper regions of ESCCs often underwent stronger immunoediting with increased selective fitness, suggesting more stringent immune selection. In addition, distinct TMEs were associated with variable genomic and clinical outcomes. Among them, hot TME was associated with high immune evasion and subclonal heterogeneity. We also found that immunoediting, instead of CD8+ T cell abundance, acts as an independent prognostic factor of ESCCs. Importantly, we found significant heterogeneity in previously considered potential therapeutic targets, as well as BRCAness characteristics in a subset of patients, emphasizing the importance of focusing on heterogeneity in ESCC targeted therapy. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of the spatial evolution of ESCC and inform precision therapeutic strategies.

N6-Methyladenosine on mRNA facilitates a phase-separated nuclear body that suppresses myeloid leukemic differentiation.

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) on mRNAs mediates different biological processes and its dysregulation contributes to tumorigenesis. How m6A dictates its diverse molecular and cellular effects in leukemias remains unknown. We found that YTHDC1 is the essential m6A reader in myeloid leukemia from a genome-wide CRISPR screen and that m6A is required for YTHDC1 to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation and form nuclear YTHDC1-m6A condensates (nYACs). The number of nYACs increases in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells compared with normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. AML cells require the nYACs to maintain cell survival and the undifferentiated state that is critical for leukemia maintenance. Furthermore, nYACs enable YTHDC1 to protect m6A-mRNAs from the PAXT complex and exosome-associated RNA degradation. Collectively, m6A is required for the formation of a nuclear body mediated by phase separation that maintains mRNA stability and control cancer cell survival and differentiation.

Integrated genomic analysis identifies deregulated JAK/STAT-MYC-biosynthesis axis in aggressive NK-cell leukemia.

Aggressive NK-cell leukemia (ANKL) is a rare form of NK cell neoplasm that is more prevalent among people from Asia and Central and South America. Patients usually die within days to months, even after receiving prompt therapeutic management. Here we performed the first comprehensive study of ANKL by integrating whole genome, transcriptome and targeted sequencing, cytokine array as well as functional assays. Mutations in the JAK-STAT pathway were identified in 48% (14/29) of ANKL patients, while the extracellular STAT3 stimulator IL10 was elevated by an average of 56-fold (P < 0.0001) in the plasma of all patients examined. Additional frequently mutated genes included TP53 (34%), TET2 (28%), CREBBP (21%) and MLL2 (21%). Patient NK leukemia cells showed prominent activation of STAT3 phosphorylation, MYC expression and transcriptional activities in multiple metabolic pathways. Functionally, STAT3 activation and MYC expression were critical for the proliferation and survival of ANKL cells. STAT signaling regulated the MYC transcription program, and both STAT signaling and MYC transcription were required to maintain the activation of nucleotide synthesis and glycolysis. Collectively, the JAK-STAT pathway represents a major target for genomic alterations and IL10 stimulation in ANKL. This newly discovered JAK/STAT-MYC-biosynthesis axis may provide opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic strategies in treating this subtype of leukemia.