The epigenetic regulator Mll1 is required for Wnt-driven intestinal tumorigenesis and cancer stemness.
Nat Commun
; 11(1): 6422, 2020 12 21.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33349639
ABSTRACT
Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is crucial for intestinal carcinogenesis and the maintenance of intestinal cancer stem cells. Here we identify the histone methyltransferase Mll1 as a regulator of Wnt-driven intestinal cancer. Mll1 is highly expressed in Lgr5+ stem cells and human colon carcinomas with increased nuclear ß-catenin. High levels of MLL1 are associated with poor survival of colon cancer patients. The genetic ablation of Mll1 in mice prevents Wnt/ß-catenin-driven adenoma formation from Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells. Ablation of Mll1 decreases the self-renewal of human colon cancer spheres and halts tumor growth of xenografts. Mll1 controls the expression of stem cell genes including the Wnt/ß-catenin target gene Lgr5. Upon the loss of Mll1, histone methylation at the stem cell promoters switches from activating H3K4 tri-methylation to repressive H3K27 tri-methylation, indicating that Mll1 sustains stem cell gene expression by antagonizing gene silencing through polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2)-mediated H3K27 tri-methylation. Transcriptome profiling of Wnt-mutated intestinal tumor-initiating cells reveals that Mll1 regulates Gata4/6 transcription factors, known to sustain cancer stemness and to control goblet cell differentiation. Our results demonstrate that Mll1 is an essential epigenetic regulator of Wnt/ß-catenin-induced intestinal tumorigenesis and cancer stemness.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Células-Tronco Neoplásicas
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Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase
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Epigênese Genética
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Proteína de Leucina Linfoide-Mieloide
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Via de Sinalização Wnt
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Carcinogênese
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article