Epigenetic heterogeneity hotspots in human liver disease progression

Background and aims: Disruption of the epigenome is a hallmark of human disease, including liver cirrhosis and HCC. While genetic heterogeneity is an established effector of pathologic phenotypes, epigenetic heterogeneity is less well understood. Environmental exposures alter the liver-specific DNA methylation landscape and influence the onset of liver cancer. Given that currently available treatments are unable to target frequently mutated genes in HCC, there is an unmet need for novel therapeutics to prevent or reverse liver damage leading to hepatic tumorigenesis, which the epigenome may provide.

Approach and results: We performed genome-wide profiling of DNA methylation, copy number, and gene expression from multiple liver regions from 31 patients with liver disease to examine their crosstalk and define the individual and combinatorial contributions of these processes to liver disease progression. We identified epigenetic heterogeneity hotspots that are conserved across patients. Elevated epigenetic heterogeneity is associated with increased gene expression heterogeneity. Cirrhotic regions comprise 2 distinct cohorts-one exclusively epigenetic, and the other where epigenetic and copy number variations collaborate. Epigenetic heterogeneity hotspots are enriched for genes central to liver function (eg, HNF1A ) and known tumor suppressors (eg, RASSF1A ). These hotspots encompass genes including ACSL1 , ACSL5 , MAT1A , and ELFN1 , which have phenotypic effects in functional screens, supporting their relevance to hepatocarcinogenesis. Moreover, epigenetic heterogeneity hotspots are linked to clinical measures of outcome.

Conclusions: Substantial epigenetic heterogeneity arises early in liver disease development, targeting key pathways in the progression and initiation of both cirrhosis and HCC. Integration of epigenetic and transcriptional heterogeneity unveils putative epigenetic regulators of hepatocarcinogenesis.