Reversal of aberrant cancer methylome and transcriptome upon direct reprogramming of lung cancer cells

Sci Rep. 2012:2:592. doi: 10.1038/srep00592. Epub 2012 Aug 21.

Abstract

Recent reports on direct reprogramming of cancer cells (iPCs) which results in reduced tumorigenic potential has attributed the importance of epigenetics in tumorigenesis, but lacked genome-wide analysis. Here we describe successful generation of iPCs from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Following reprogramming, they resembled embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells in pluripotency markers expression, gene expression patterns and in vitro differentiation ability. Genome-wide methylation analysis revealed that aberrantly methylated promoters which were mostly developmental-associated genes and tumor suppressors; as well as commonly upregulated genes in NSCLC i.e. KRT19 and S100P were reversed in iPCs upon reprogramming. Also, the reversal of oncogenes and tumor suppressors status were partially explainable by DNA methylation. These findings suggest that DNA methylation patterns explain the downstream transcriptional effects, which potentially caused the reduced tumorigenicity in iPCs, thus providing evidence that reprogramming reverses the aberrantly dysregulated genes in NSCLC both epigenetically and transcriptionally.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carcinogens
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cellular Reprogramming*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carcinogens

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE35913