A KLF4/PiHL/EZH2/HMGA2 regulatory axis and its function in promoting oxaliplatin-resistance of colorectal cancer

Cell Death Dis. 2021 May 13;12(5):485. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-03753-1.

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as a new class of regulatory molecules implicated in therapeutic resistance, yet the mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC) are poorly understood. In this study, lncRNA P53 inHibiting LncRNA (PiHL) was shown to be highly induced in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cells and tumor tissues. In vitro and in vivo models clarified PiHL's role in conferring resistance to oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis. PiHL antagonized chemosensitivity through binding with EZH2, repressing location of EZH2 to HMGA2 promoter, and downregulating methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) level in HMGA2 promoter, thus activating HMGA2 expression. Furthermore, HMGA2 upregulation induced by PiHL promotes PI3K/Akt phosphorylation, which resulted in increased oxaliplatin resistance. We also found that transcription factor KLF4 was downregulated in oxaliplatin-resistant cells, and KLF4 negatively regulated PiHL expression by binding to PiHL promoter. In vivo models further demonstrated that treatment of oxaliplatin-resistant CRC with locked nucleic acids targeting PiHL restored oxaliplatin response. Collectively, this study established lncRNA PiHL as a chemoresistance promoter in CRC, and targeting PiHL/EZH2/HMGA2/PI3K/Akt signaling axis represents a novel choice in the investigation of drug resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Oxaliplatin / pharmacology
  • Oxaliplatin / therapeutic use*
  • Prognosis
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • KLF4 protein, human
  • Klf4 protein, mouse
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Oxaliplatin
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein