Regulation of RARbeta1 expression in head and neck cancer cells by cell density-dependent chromatin remodeling.
Retinoids have shown significant activities in cancer prevention and therapy. Many of their effects are mediated by nuclear retinoid receptors including retinoic acid receptors (RARs alpha, beta and gamma) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs alpha, beta and gamma). Human retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) has three different isoforms: beta1, beta2 and beta4. The tumor suppressive characteristics of RARbeta2, its silencing by promoter hypermethylation, and its reexpression following demethylation have been reported. In contrast, RARbeta1, an embryonic isoform with restricted expression in adult tissues has been linked to carcinogenesis. However, factors regulating RARbeta1 expression have not yet been clarified. During studies on the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells, we found that the expression of RARbeta increased in cells grown to high density. Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction revealed that the isoform increased in these cells was RARbeta1. Epigenetic modifications of this isoform were tested using combined bisulfite restriction analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. The UMSCC38 cell line showed significant RARbeta1 expression (p < 0.001), which was dependent on cell density and culture duration. The increased expression of RARbeta1 was not due to demethylation of its promoter. However, higher cell densities were associated with increased acetylation of histone 3 at lysine 9 in RARbeta1 but not in RARbeta2. These findings reveal that the expression of RARbeta1 is regulated by cell density through changes in histone acetylation.
Youssef
Emile M
EM
Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. eyoussef@mdanderson.org
Issa
Jean-Pierre J
JP
Lotan
Reuben
R
D000107:Acetylation; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D002452:Cell Count; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000502:physiology*; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006657:Histones; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; C082925:retinoic acid receptor beta; D006655:Histone Deacetylases