DNA methylation changes are a late event in acute promyelocytic leukemia and coincide with loss of transcription factor binding (original) (raw)

PML-RARα/RXR Alters the Epigenetic Landscape in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Cancer Cell, 2010

Many different molecular mechanisms have been associated with PML-RARa-dependent transformation of hematopoietic progenitors. Here, we identified high confidence PML-RARa binding sites in an acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line and in two APL primary blasts. We found colocalization of PML-RARa with RXR to the vast majority of these binding regions. Genome-wide epigenetic studies revealed that treatment with pharmacological doses of all-trans retinoic acid induces changes in H3 acetylation, but not H3K27me3, H3K9me3, or DNA methylation at the PML-RARa/RXR binding sites or at nearby target genes. Our results suggest that PML-RARa/RXR functions as a local chromatin modulator and that specific recruitment of histone deacetylase activities to genes important for hematopoietic differentiation, RAR signaling, and epigenetic control is crucial to its transforming potential.

DNA methylation-independent loss of RARA gene expression in acute myeloid leukemia

The retinoic acid receptor (RAR) ␣ gene (RARA) encodes 2 major isoforms and mediates positive effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on myelomonocytic differentiation. Expression of the ATRAinducible (RAR␣2) isoform increases with myelomonocytic differentiation and appears to be down-regulated in many acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines. Here, we demonstrate that relative to normal myeloid stem/progenitor cells, RAR␣2 ex-pression is dramatically reduced in primary AML blasts. Expression of the RAR␣1 isoform is also significantly reduced in primary AML cells, but not in AML cell lines. Although the promoters directing expression of RAR␣1 and RAR␣2 are respectively unmethylated and methylated in AML cell lines, these regulatory regions are unmethylated in all the AML patient cell samples analyzed. Moreover, in primary AML cells, histones asso-ciated with the RAR␣2 promoter possessed diminished levels of H3 acetylation and lysine 4 methylation. These results underscore the complexities of the mechanisms responsible for deregulation of gene expression in AML and support the notion that diminished RARA expression contributes to leukemogenesis. (Blood. 2008;111:2374-2377)

Early aberrant DNA methylation events in a mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia

Genome Medicine, 2014

Background: Aberrant DNA methylation is frequently found in human malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). While most studies focus on later disease stages, the onset of aberrant DNA methylation events and their dynamics during leukemic progression are largely unknown. Methods: We screened genome-wide for aberrant CpG island methylation in three disease stages of a murine AML model that is driven by hypomorphic expression of the hematopoietic transcription factor PU.1. DNA methylation levels of selected genes were correlated with methylation levels of CD34+ cells and lineage negative, CD127-, c-Kit+, Sca-1+ cells; common myeloid progenitors; granulocyte-macrophage progenitors; and megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors.

DNA methylation in ATRA-treated leukemia cell lines lacking a PML-RAR chromosome translocation

Anticancer research, 2012

A deficient retinoic acid signaling has been suggested to be an important cause of the clinical inefficacy of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy in non-promyelocytic (non-PML) forms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The general aim of the present work was to explore novel ways to take advantage of the anti-leukemic potential of ATRA, and, specifically, to search for a synergism between ATRA and epigenetic drugs. Because previous reports have found no major influence of ATRA on DNA methylation, we investigated whether ATRA-mediated differentiation of the U937 and HL-60 AML cell lines, both lacking a PML-retinoic acid receptor (RAR) fusion product, is accompanied by early-appearing and weak changes in CpG methylation. We report that in HL-60 cells, by using a highly quantitative analysis of a set of genes found to be abnormally expressed in AML, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified p16 gene promoter molecules (each with 15 CpG sites), exhibited a CpG methylation level of 0-4% ...

Aberrant DNA methylation of key genes and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2018

DNA methylation is a dynamic process influencing gene expression by altering either coding or non-coding loci. Despite advances in treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL); relapse occurs in approximately 20% of patients. Nowadays, epigenetic factors are considered as one of the most effective mechanisms in pathogenesis of malignancies. These factors are reversible elements which can be potentially regarded as therapy targets and disease prognosis. DNA methylation, which primarily serves as transcriptional suppressor, mostly occurs in CpG islands of the gene promoter regions. This was shown as a key epigenetic factor in inactivating various tumor suppressor genes during cancer initiation and progression. We aimed to review methylation status of key genes involved in hematopoietic malignancies such as IKZF1, CDKN2B, TET2, CYP1B1, SALL4, DLC1, DLX family, TP73, PTPN6, and CDKN1C; and their significance in pathogenesis of ALL. The DNA methylation alterations in promoter regions of the genes have been shown to play crucial roles in tumorigenesis. Methylation-based inactivation of these genes has also been reported as associated with prognosis in acute leukemia. In this review, we also addressed the association of gene expression and methylation pattern in ALL patients.

Large-scale CpG methylation analysis identifies novel candidate genes and reveals methylation hotspots in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Cancer research, 2007

This study examined DNA methylation associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and showed that selected molecular targets can be pharmacologically modulated to reverse gene silencing. A CpG island (CGI) microarray containing more than 3,400 unique clones that span all human chromosomes was used for large-scale discovery experiments and led to 262 unique CGI loci being statistically identified as methylated in ALL lymphoblasts. The methylation status of 10 clones encompassing 11 genes (DCC, DLC-1, DDX51, KCNK2, LRP1B, NKX6-1, NOPE, PCDHGA12, RPIB9, ABCB1, and SLC2A14) identified as differentially methylated between ALL patients and controls was independently verified. Consequently, the methylation status of DDX51 was found to differentiate patients with Band TALL subtypes (P = 0.011, Fisher's exact test). Next, the relationship between methylation and expression of these genes was examined in ALL cell lines (NALM-6 and Jurkat) before and after treatments with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A. More than a 10-fold increase in mRNA expression was observed for two previously identified tumor suppressor genes (DLC-1 and DCC) and also for RPIB9 and PCDHGA12. Although the mechanisms that lead to the CGI methylation of these genes are unknown, bisulfite sequencing of the promoter of RPIB9 suggests that expression is inhibited by methylation within SP1 and AP2 transcription factor binding motifs. Finally, specific chromosomal methylation hotspots were found to be associated with ALL. This study sets the stage for acquiring a better biological understanding of ALL and for the identification of epigenetic biomarkers useful for differential diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and the detection of leukemic relapse.

The Gene Expression Profile and DNA Methylation Pattern of CDH1 and DNMT1 Genes in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)

Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology, 2020

Background DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that has the ability to alter gene expression and function. These epigenetic changes have been associated with the development of cancer. Previous research has found that DNA methylation patterns can predict disease prognosis for patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL). The role of DNMT1 and CDH1 in regulating the extension of cells are studied in this study. Methods DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of APL patients and treated with bisulfite. DNMT1 and CDH1 gene promoter methylation was subsequently analyzed using methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression level of DNMT1 and CDH1 genes. Results Partial methylation of the CDH1 gene promoter was detected in 20% of APL patients and an unmethylated status was detected in 80% of patient samples. Additionally, an unmethylated status in the DNMT1 gene promoter was detected in 100% of APL patient samples. Conclusion Our stu...

Genome-wide signatures of differential DNA methylation in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Genome Biology, 2013

Background: Although aberrant DNA methylation has been observed previously in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the patterns of differential methylation have not been comprehensively determined in all subtypes of ALL on a genome-wide scale. The relationship between DNA methylation, cytogenetic background, drug resistance and relapse in ALL is poorly understood. Results: We surveyed the DNA methylation levels of 435,941 CpG sites in samples from 764 children at diagnosis of ALL and from 27 children at relapse. This survey uncovered four characteristic methylation signatures. First, compared with control blood cells, the methylomes of ALL cells shared 9,406 predominantly hypermethylated CpG sites, independent of cytogenetic background. Second, each cytogenetic subtype of ALL displayed a unique set of hyper-and hypomethylated CpG sites. The CpG sites that constituted these two signatures differed in their functional genomic enrichment to regions with marks of active or repressed chromatin. Third, we identified subtype-specific differential methylation in promoter and enhancer regions that were strongly correlated with gene expression. Fourth, a set of 6,612 CpG sites was predominantly hypermethylated in ALL cells at relapse, compared with matched samples at diagnosis. Analysis of relapse-free survival identified CpG sites with subtype-specific differential methylation that divided the patients into different risk groups, depending on their methylation status. Conclusions: Our results suggest an important biological role for DNA methylation in the differences between ALL subtypes and in their clinical outcome after treatment.