Open AccessG9a and histone deacetylases are crucial for Snail2‐mediated E‐cadherin repression and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Hu Yue,
Zheng Yayuan,
Dai Mingrui,
Wang Xueju,
Wu Jiaxin,
Yu Bin,
Zhang Haihong,
Cui Yinqiu,
Kong Wei,
Wu Hui,
Yu Xianghui
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.14173
Subject(s) - cancer research , metastasis , gene knockdown , cadherin , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , epigenetics , downregulation and upregulation , biology , histone , cancer , cell culture , cell , genetics , gene
Functional E‐cadherin loss, a hallmark of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition ( EMT ), is important for metastasis. However, the mechanism of Snail2 in hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) EMT and metastasis remains unclear. Here, we showed that Snail2 was upregulated in primary HCC , and significantly increased during transforming growth factor‐β‐induced liver cell EMT . Snail2‐overexpressing and knockdown cell lines have been established to determine its function in EMT in HCC . H3K9 methylation was upregulated and H3K4 and H3K56 acetylation were downregulated at the E‐cadherin promoter in Snail2‐overexpressing cancer cells. Furthermore, Snail2 interacted with G9a and histone deacetylases ( HDAC s) to form a complex to suppress E‐cadherin transcription. Snail2 overexpression enhanced migration and invasion in HCC cells, whereas G9a and HDAC inhibition significantly reversed this effect. Moreover, Snail2 overexpression in cancer cells increased tumor metastasis and shortened survival time in mice, whereas G9a and HDAC inhibitors extended survival. Our study not only reveals a critical mechanism underlying the epigenetic regulation of EMT but also suggests novel treatment strategies for HCC .