title: Gfi-1 is the transcriptional repressor of SOCS1 in acute myeloid leukemia cells.
abstract: Silencing of SOCS1, a TSG, has been detected in various malignancies, including AML. However, the underlying mechanism of SOCS1 inactivation remains elusive. In this study, we explored the role of histone methylation in SOCS1 expression in AML cells. By ChIP assay, we demonstrated that G9a and SUV39H1, two enzymes catalyzing H3K9 methylation, were physically associated with the SOCS1 promoter, and treatment with chaetocin, a histone methyltransferase inhibitor, suppressed H3K9 methylation on the SOCS1 promoter and enhanced SOCS1 expression. Furthermore, knockdown of G9a and SUV39H1 by siRNA could also induce SOCS1 expression. On the other hand, SOCS1 knockdown by shRNA eliminated chaetocin-induced cell apoptosis. To investigate further whether any transcription factor was involved in H3K9 methylation-related SOCS1 repression, we scanned the sequences of the SOCS1 gene promoter and found two binding sites for Gfi-1, a transcription repressor. By DNA pull-down and ChIP assays, we showed that Gfi-1 directly bound the SOCS1 promoter, and ectopic Gfi-1 expression suppressed STAT5-induced SOCS1 promoter activation. In contrast, Gfi-1 knockdown by shRNA enhanced SOCS1 expression and inhibited STAT5 expression. Moreover, the knockdown of G9a completely rescued the repressive effect of Gfi-1 on STAT5A-induced SOCS1 promoter activation. Collectively, our study indicates that the expression of Gfi-1 contributes to SOCS1 silencing in AML cells through epigenetic modification, and suppression of histone methyltransferase can provide new insight in AML therapy.
authors.affiliation: 1.National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei, Taiwan. hftien@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ming-Cheng
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yuan-Yeh
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Wen-Chien
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Hsin-An
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Hwei-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Tien
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / Q000187:drug effects; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D034622:RNA Interference; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C498275:GFI1 protein, human; D006657:Histones; D010879:Piperazines; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C108944:SOCS1 protein, human; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C002511:chaetocin
keywords: G9a; H3K9 methylation; SUV39H1