Epigenetic loss of the familial tumor-suppressor gene exostosin-1 (EXT1) disrupts heparan sulfate synthesis in cancer cells

• Published in: Human molecular genetics Vol. 13; no. 22; pp. 2753 - 2765
• Main Authors: Ropero, Santiago, Setien, Fernando, Espada, Jesus, Fraga, Mario F., Herranz, Michel, Asp, Julia, Benassi, Maria Serena, Franchi, Alessandro, Patiño, Ana, Ward, Laura S., Bovee, Judith, Cigudosa, Juan C., Wim, Wuyts, Esteller, Manel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 15-11-2004; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Acute; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell physiology; Cell transformation and carcinogenesis. Action of oncogenes and antioncogenes; CpG Islands; deficiency; DNA Methylation; drug therapy; Epigenesis; Epigenesis, Genetic; Experimental; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - genetics; Gene Silencing; Genes; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Genetic; genetics; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Heparitin Sulfate; Heparitin Sulfate - biosynthesis; Heparitin Sulfate - deficiency; Heterologous; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute - drug therapy; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute - genetics; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute - metabolism; Lymphocytic; MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES; MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP; metabolism; Mice; Mice, Nude; Missense; Molecular and cellular biology; Mutation; Mutation, Missense; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases - biosynthesis; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases - genetics; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Experimental - metabolism; Neoplasms, Experimental - pathology; Neoplastic; Nude; pathology; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - drug therapy; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - genetics; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - metabolism; Promoter Regions (Genetics); Promoter Regions, Genetic; Promyelocytic; Skin Neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms - genetics; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; therapeutic use; Transplantation; Transplantation, Heterologous; Tretinoin; Tretinoin - therapeutic use; Tumor; Tumor Suppressor; Epigenetics; Genetics; Malignant tumor; Sulfates; Tumor suppressor gene
• ISSN: 0964-6906; 1460-2083
• DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddh298

Germline mutations in the Exostoses-1 gene (EXT1) are found in hereditary multiple exostoses syndrome, which is characterized by the formation of osteochondromas and an increased risk of chondrosarcomas and osteosarcomas. However, despite its putative tumor-suppressor function, little is known of the contribution of EXT1 to human sporadic malignancies. Here, we report that EXT1 function is abrogated in human cancer cells by transcriptional silencing associated with CpG island promoter hypermethylation. We also show that, at the biochemical and cellular levels, the epigenetic inactivation of EXT1, a glycosyltransferase, leads to the loss of heparan sulfate (HS) synthesis. Reduced HS production can be reversed by the use of a DNA demethylating agent. Furthermore, the re‐introduction of EXT1 into cancer cell lines displaying methylation-dependent silencing of EXT1 induces tumor-suppressor-like features, e.g. reduced colony formation density and tumor growth in nude mouse xenograft models. Screening a large collection of human cancer cell lines (n=79) and primary tumors (n=454) from different cell types, we found that EXT1 CpG island hypermethylation was common in leukemia, especially acute promyelocytic leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and non-melanoma skin cancer. These findings highlight the importance of EXT1 epigenetic inactivation, leading to an abrogation of HS biosynthesis, in the processes of tumor onset and progression.