HGF-MET signals via the MLL-ETS2 complex in hepatocellular carcinoma

J Clin Invest. 2013 Jul;123(7):3154-65. doi: 10.1172/JCI65566. Epub 2013 Jun 24.

Abstract

HGF signals through its cognate receptor, MET, to orchestrate diverse biological processes, including cell proliferation, cell fate specification, organogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL), an epigenetic regulator, plays critical roles in cell fate, stem cell, and cell cycle decisions. Here, we describe a role for MLL in the HGF-MET signaling pathway. We found a shared phenotype among Mll(-/-), Hgf(-/-), and Met(-/-) mice with common cranial nerve XII (CNXII) outgrowth and myoblast migration defects. Phenotypic analysis demonstrated that MLL was required for HGF-induced invasion and metastatic growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. HGF-MET signaling resulted in the accumulation of ETS2, which interacted with MLL to transactivate MMP1 and MMP3. ChIP assays demonstrated that activation of the HGF-MET pathway resulted in increased occupancy of the MLL-ETS2 complex on MMP1 and MMP3 promoters, where MLL trimethylated histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4), activating transcription. Our results present an epigenetic link between MLL and the HGF-MET signaling pathway, which may suggest new strategies for therapeutic intervention.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / secondary
  • Embryo, Mammalian / abnormalities
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor / physiology*
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted / metabolism
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • Mice, 129 Strain
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / chemistry
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / genetics
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2 / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2 / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptional Activation

Substances

  • ETS2 protein, human
  • Histones
  • KMT2A protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • MET protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted