MYC-induced epigenetic activation of GATA4 in lung adenocarcinoma

Mol Cancer Res. 2013 Feb;11(2):161-72. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-12-0414-T. Epub 2012 Dec 13.

Abstract

Human lung cancer is a disease with high incidence and accounts for most cancer-related deaths in both men and women. Metastasis is a common event in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), diminishing the survival chance of the patients with this type of tumor. It has been shown that MYC is involved in the development of metastasis from NSCLC, but the mechanism underlying this switch remained to be identified. Here, we focus on GATA4 as a MYC target in the development of metastasis with origin in lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of NSCLC. Epigenetic alterations at the GATA4 promoter level were observed after MYC expression in lung adenocarcinoma in vivo and in vitro. Such alterations include site-specific demethylation that accompanies the displacement of the MYC-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ) from the GATA4 promoter, which leads to GATA4 expression. Histone modification analysis of the GATA4 promoter revealed a switch from repressive histone marks to active histone marks after MYC binding, which corresponds to active GATA4 expression. Our results thus identify a novel epigenetic mechanism by which MYC activates GATA4 leading to metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting novel potential targets for the development of antimetastatic therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Growth Processes / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Female
  • GATA4 Transcription Factor / biosynthesis
  • GATA4 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, myc*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Mucin-2 / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • ras Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GATA4 Transcription Factor
  • GATA4 protein, human
  • KRAS protein, human
  • MYC protein, human
  • Mucin-2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Transcription Factors
  • c-MYC-associated zinc finger protein
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins