Novel oligoamine analogues inhibit lysine-specific demethylase 1 and induce reexpression of epigenetically silenced genes

Yi Huang, Tracy Murray Stewart, Yu Wu, Stephen B. Baylin, Laurence J. Marton, Brandy Perkins, Richard J. Jones, Patrick M. Woster, Robert A. Casero

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

164 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Abnormal DNA CpG island hypermethylation and transcriptionally repressive histone modifications are associated with the aberrant silencing of tumor suppressor genes. Lysine methylation is a dynamic, enzymatically controlled process. Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) has recently been identified as a histone lysine demethylase. LSD1 specifically catalyzes demethylation of mono- and dimethyl-lysine 4 of histone 3 (H3K4), key positive chromatin marks associated with transcriptional activation. We hypothesized that a novel class of oligoamine analogues would effectively inhibit LSD1 and thus cause the reexpression of aberrantly silenced genes. Experimental Design: Human colorectal cancer cellswere treated with the oligoamines and changesin mono- and dimethyl-H3K4 and other chromatin marks were monitored. In addition, treated cells were evaluated for the reexpression of the aberrantly silenced secreted frizzled-related proteins (SFRP) Wnt signaling pathway antagonist genes. Finally, the effects of the LSD1 inhibitors were evaluated in an in vivo xenograft model. Results: Treatment of HCT116 human colon adenocarcinoma cells in vitro resulted in increased H3K4 methylation and reexpression of silenced SFRP genes. This reexpression is also accompanied by a decrease in H3K9me2 repressive mark. Importantly, cotreatment with low doses of oligoamines and a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor highly induces the reexpression of the aberrantly silenced SFRP2 gene and results in significant inhibition of the growth of established tumors in a human colon tumor model in vivo. Conclusions: The use of LSD1-inhibiting oligoamine analogues in combination with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors represents a highly promising and novel approach for epigenetic therapy of cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7217-7228
Number of pages12
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume15
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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