The histone demethylase KDM3A is a microRNA-22-regulated tumor promoter in Ewing Sarcoma

Oncogene. 2015 Jan 8;34(2):257-62. doi: 10.1038/onc.2013.541. Epub 2013 Dec 23.

Abstract

Ewing Sarcoma is a biologically aggressive bone and soft tissue malignancy affecting children and young adults. Ewing Sarcoma pathogenesis is driven by EWS/Ets fusion oncoproteins, of which EWS/Fli1 is the most common. We have previously shown that microRNAs (miRs) regulated by EWS/Fli1 contribute to the pro-oncogenic program in Ewing Sarcoma. Here we show that miR-22, an EWS/Fli1-repressed miR, is inhibitory to Ewing Sarcoma clonogenic and anchorage-independent cell growth, even at modest overexpression levels. Our studies further identify the H3K9me1/2 histone demethylase KDM3A (JMJD1A/JHDM2A) as a new miR-22-regulated gene. We show that KDM3A is overexpressed in Ewing Sarcoma, and that its depletion inhibits clonogenic and anchorage-independent growth in multiple patient-derived cell lines, and tumorigenesis in a xenograft model. KDM3A depletion further results in augmentation of the levels of the repressive H3K9me2 histone mark, and downregulation of pro-oncogenic factors in Ewing Sarcoma. Together, our studies identify the histone demethylase KDM3A as a new, miR-regulated, tumor promoter in Ewing Sarcoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Down-Regulation
  • Epigenomics
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / genetics*
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / enzymology*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / genetics*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / pathology

Substances

  • MIRN22 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • KDM3A protein, human