title: [Epigenetic analyses of brain tumor stem cells].
abstract: It has been reported that cancer initiating cells (cancer stem cells, CSCS) are present in human neoplasia. Although it is known that stem cells play a role in tumorigenesis, the early epigenetic events involved in the development of malignant precursors remain unknown. Here, we reviewed the epigenetic modifications involved in the induction of human brain tumors, particularly focusing on polycomb-repressive complex-mediated histone (H3) lysine (K) 27 tri-methylation (K27-3Me) and other DNA methylation patterns, which are known to act as transcriptional silencing machineries for tumor-suppressor genes, in brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs). Among the histone modifications associated with H3K27-3Me, the potential role of EZH2 histone methyltransferase, which is the catalytic subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2, in the formation of brain tumors has been discussed. In addition, we considered the prospects for developing epigenetic therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natsume
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells; D037941:Silencer Elements, Transcriptional
chemical_list: D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase