ZNF191 alters DNA methylation and activates the PI3K‐AKT pathway in hepatoma cells via transcriptional regulation of DNMT1

Cancer Medicine

Cheng Huang¹  Chenchen Cheng²  Pingzhao Zhang²  Zhonghua Zhao²  Guoyuan Liu²  Yufeng Liu²  Wenjiao Zeng²  Qi Chen²  Hanghang Cheng²  Xiuping Liu³  Fengyun Zheng⁴  Wei Jiang⁵ 

[1] Department of Liver Surgery & Transplantation Liver Cancer Institute Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai China;Department of Pathology School of Basic Medical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai China;Department of Pathology Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital School of Basic Medical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai China;Institutes of Biomedical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai China;Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine The Ministry of Education Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology School of Basic Medical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai China;

关键词: DNA methylation;    DNMT1;    hepatocellular carcinoma;    PI3K‐AKT signaling pathway;    zinc finger transcription factor 191(ZNF191);   

DOI  :  10.1002/cam4.4535

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Alteration of DNA methylation is an important event in pathogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) 1, the foremost contributor in DNA methylation machinery, was revealed elevated in HCC and significantly correlates with poor prognosis. However, the transcriptional regulation of DNMT1 in HCC remains unknown. Methods Real‐time PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect DNMT1 and zinc finger transcription factor 191 (ZNF191) expressions in HCCs. Transcription activity of DNMT1promoter was analyzed with Luciferase reporter activity assay. The binding capacity of ZNF191 protein to DNMT1 promoter was examined with chromatin immunoprecipitation‐qPCR (ChIP‐qPCR) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). DNA methylation level of hepatoma cells was detected with Methylation array. Results ZNF191 can regulate DNMT1 mRNA and protein expression positively, and increase the transcription activity of the DNMT1 promoter. ChIP‐qPCR and EMSA revealed that ZNF191 protein directly binds to the DNMT1 promoter at nt‐240 AT(TCAT)3TC. Moreover, DNMT1 and ZNF191 expression correlate positively in human HCCs. With methylation array, DNA methylation alteration was observed in hepatoma cells with ZNF191 knockdown, and the differential methylation sites are enriched in the PI3K‐AKT pathway. Furthermore, we proved DNMT1 contributes the effect of ZNF191 on hepatoma cell growth via the PI3K‐AKT pathway. Conclusion ZNF191 is a novel transcription regulator for DNMT1, and the pro‐proliferation effect of ZNF191/DNMT1/p‐AKT axis in hepatoma cells implies that ZNF191 status in HCCs may affect the therapeutic effect of DNMTs inhibitors and PI3K inhibitors for precise treatment of the disease.

【 授权许可】

Unknown