Isoform switching and exon skipping induced by the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine

Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 19:6:24545. doi: 10.1038/srep24545.

Abstract

DNA methylation in gene promoters leads to gene silencing and is the therapeutic target of methylation inhibitors such as 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR). By analyzing the time series RNA-seq data (days 5, 9, 13, 17) obtained from human bladder cells exposed to 5-Aza-CdR with 0.1 uM concentration, we showed that 5-Aza-CdR can affect isoform switching and differential exon usage (i.e., exon-skipping), in addition to its effects on gene expression. We identified more than 2,000 genes with significant expression changes after 5-Aza-CdR treatment. Interestingly, 29 exon-skipping events induced by treatment were identified and validated experimentally. Particularly, exon-skipping event in Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 (EZH2) along with expression changes showed significant down regulation on Day 5 and Day 9 but returned to normal level on Day 13 and Day 17. EZH2 is a component of the multi-subunit polycomb repressive complex PRC2, and the down-regulation of exon-skipping event may lead to the regain of functional EZH2 which was consistent with our previous finding that demethylation may cause regain of PRC2 in demethylated regions. In summary, our study identified pervasive transcriptome changes of bladder cancer cells after treatment with 5-Aza-CdR, and provided valuable insights into the therapeutic effects of 5-Aza-CdR in current clinical trials.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Azacitidine / administration & dosage
  • Azacitidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Decitabine
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / biosynthesis*
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / genetics
  • Exons / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / drug effects
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • Decitabine
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Azacitidine