EZH2-mediated epigenetic silencing in germinal center B cells contributes to proliferation and lymphomagenesis

Blood. 2010 Dec 9;116(24):5247-55. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-04-280149. Epub 2010 Aug 24.

Abstract

EZH2 is the catalytic subunit of the PRC2 Polycomb complex and mediates transcriptional repression through its histone methyltransferase activity. EZH2 is up-regulated in normal germinal center (GC) B cells and is implicated in lymphomagenesis. To explore the transcriptional programs controlled by EZH2, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-on-chip) in GC cells and found that it binds approximately 1800 promoters, often associated with DNA sequences similar to Droso-phila Polycomb response elements. While EZH2 targets overlapped extensively between GC B cells and embryonic stem cells, we also observed a large GC-specific EZH2 regulatory program. These genes are preferentially histone 3 lysine 27-trimethylated and repressed in GC B cells and include several key cell cycle-related tumor suppressor genes. Accordingly, siRNA-mediated down-regulation of EZH2 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells resulted in acute cell cycle arrest at the G(1)/S transition and up-regulation of its tumor suppressor target genes. At the DNA level, EZH2-bound promoters are hypomethylated in GC B cells, but many of them are aberrantly hypermethylated in DLBCL, suggesting disruption of normal epigenetic processes in these cells. EZH2 is thus involved in regulating a specific epigenetic program in normal GCs, including silencing of antiproliferative genes, which may contribute to the malignant transformation of GC B cells into DLBCLs.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Gene Silencing / physiology*
  • Germinal Center / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / etiology*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2