title: Inhibition of H3K9 methyltransferase G9a induces autophagy and apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore whether inhibition of H3K9 Methyltransferase G9a could exert an antitumoral effect in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  First we checked G9a expression in two OSCC cell lines Tca8113 and KB. Next we used a special G9a inhibitor BIX01294 (BIX) to explore the effect of inhibition of G9a on OSCC in vitro. Cell growth was tested by typlan blue staining, MTT assay and Brdu immunofluorescence staining. Cell autophagy was examined by monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, LC3-II immunofluorescence staining and LC3-II western blot assay. Cell apoptosis was checked by FITC Annexin-V and PI labeling, tunnel staining and caspase 3 western blot assay. Finally, the effect of inhibition of G9a on clonogenesis and tumorigenesis capacity of OSCC was analyzed by soft agar growth and xenograft model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we showed that G9a was expressed in both Tca8113 and KB cells. Inhibition of G9a using BIX significantly reduced cell growth and proliferation in Tca8113 and KB. Inhibition of G9a induced cell autophagy with conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and cell apoptosis with the expression of cleaved caspase 3. We also found that inhibition of G9a reduced colony formation in soft agar and repressed tumor growth in mouse xenograph model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that G9a might be a potential epigenetic target for OSCC treatment.
authors: Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, PR China; Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, PR China.
authors: Aishu
authors: A
authors: Ren
authors: Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, PR China; Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, PR China.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Qiu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, PR China.
authors: Hongjuan
authors: H
authors: Cui
authors: Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, PR China; Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, PR China. Electronic address: fg.ras@hotmail.com.
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Fu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects; D001381:Azepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D001381:Azepines; C518299:BIX 01294; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D011799:Quinazolines; C445405:EHMT2 protein, human; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; G9a; Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)