Histone deacetylase inhibitors deplete enhancer of zeste 2 and associated polycomb repressive complex 2 proteins in human acute leukemia cells.
Human enhancer of zeste 2 (EZH2) protein belongs to the multiprotein polycomb repressive complex 2, which also includes suppressor of zeste 12 (SUZ12) and embryonic ectoderm development (EED). The polycomb repressive complex 2 complex possesses histone methyltransferase activity mediated by the Su(var)3-9, enhancer of zeste, and trithorax domain of EZH2, which methylates histone H3 on lysine (K)-27 (H3K27). In the present studies, we determined that treatment with the hydroxamate histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 or LAQ824 depleted the protein levels of EZH2, SUZ12, and EED in the cultured (K562, U937, and HL-60) and primary human acute leukemia cells. This was associated with decreased levels of trimethylated and dimethylated H3K27, with concomitant depletion of the homeobox domain containing HOXA9 and of MEIS1 transcription factors. Knockdown of EZH2 by EZH2 small interfering RNA also depleted SUZ12 and EED, inhibited histone methyltransferase activity, and reduced trimethylated and dimethylated H3K27 levels, with a concomitant loss of clonogenic survival of the cultured acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells. EZH2 small interfering RNA sensitized the AML cells to LBH589-mediated depletion of EZH2, SUZ12, and EED; loss of clonogenic survival; and LBH589-induced differentiation of the AML cells. These findings support the rationale to test anti-EZH2 treatment combined with hydroxamate histone deacetylase inhibitors as an antileukemia epigenetic therapy, especially against AML with coexpression of EZH2, HOXA9, and MEIS1 genes.
Fiskus
Warren
W
Medical College of Georgia Cancer Center, 1120 15th Street, CN2101A, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Pranpat
Michael
M
Balasis
Maria
M
Herger
Bryan
B
Rao
Rekha
R
Chinnaiyan
Arul
A
Atadja
Peter
P
Bhalla
Kapil
K
D000107:Acetylation / Q000187:drug effects; D000208:Acute Disease; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000076983:Histone Methyltransferases; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007211:Indoles; D020014:K562 Cells; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000077767:Panobinostat; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020298:U937 Cells
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C491488:EED protein, human; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D007211:Indoles; C477361:LAQ824; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C430461:SUZ12 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000077767:Panobinostat; D000076983:Histone Methyltransferases; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; C498409:EZH2 protein, human; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D006655:Histone Deacetylases