KDM2A promotes lung tumorigenesis by epigenetically enhancing ERK1/2 signaling

• Published in: The Journal of clinical investigation Vol. 123; no. 12; pp. 5231 - 5246
• Main Authors: Wagner, Klaus W, Alam, Hunain, Dhar, Shilpa S, Giri, Uma, Li, Na, Wei, Yongkun, Giri, Dipak, Cascone, Tina, Kim, Jae-Hwan, Ye, Yuanqing, Multani, Asha S, Chan, Chia-Hsin, Erez, Baruch, Saigal, Babita, Chung, Jimyung, Lin, Hui-Kuan, Wu, Xifeng, Hung, Mien-Chie, Heymach, John V, Lee, Min Gyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Clinical Investigation 01-12-2013
• Subjects: Animals; Biomedical research; Cancer; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - genetics; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Cell Division; Cell Line, Tumor; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 3 - biosynthesis; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 3 - genetics; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 3 - physiology; Epigenesis, Genetic - genetics; Epigenesis, Genetic - physiology; Epigenetics; F-Box Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; F-Box Proteins - biosynthesis; F-Box Proteins - genetics; F-Box Proteins - physiology; Female; Gene amplification; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - physiology; Genetic aspects; Genetic regulation; Heterografts; Histones - metabolism; Humans; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases - antagonists & inhibitors; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases - biosynthesis; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases - genetics; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases - physiology; Kinases; Lung cancer; Lung cancer, Non-small cell; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Methylation; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Proteins - physiology; Prognosis; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein Processing, Post-Translational - genetics; Protein Processing, Post-Translational - physiology; Proteins; RNA Interference; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Neoplasm - biosynthesis; RNA, Neoplasm - genetics; Survival analysis; Tumors; United States
• ISSN: 0021-9738; 1558-8238
• DOI: 10.1172/JCI68642

Epigenetic dysregulation has emerged as a major contributor to tumorigenesis. Histone methylation is a well-established mechanism of epigenetic regulation that is dynamically modulated by histone methyltransferases and demethylases. The pathogenic role of histone methylation modifiers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, remains largely unknown. Here, we found that the histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36) demethylase KDM2A (also called FBXL11 and JHDM1A) is frequently overexpressed in NSCLC tumors and cell lines. KDM2A and its catalytic activity were required for in vitro proliferation and invasion of KDM2A-overexpressing NSCLC cells. KDM2A overexpression in NSCLC cells with low KDM2A levels increased cell proliferation and invasiveness. KDM2A knockdown abrogated tumor growth and invasive abilities of NSCLC cells in mouse xenograft models. We identified dual-specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3) as a key KDM2A target gene and found that DUSP3 dephosphorylates ERK1/2 in NSCLC cells. KDM2A activated ERK1/2 through epigenetic repression of DUSP3 expression via demethylation of dimethylated H3K36 at the DUSP3 locus. High KDM2A levels correlated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. These findings uncover an unexpected role for a histone methylation modifier in activating ERK1/2 in lung tumorigenesis and metastasis, suggesting that KDM2A may be a promising therapeutic target in NSCLC.