Epigenetic regulation of TGF-β-induced EMT by JMJD3/KDM6B histone H3K27 demethylase

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathways are well-recognized for their role in proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells, but much less is understood about their contribution to interactions with other signaling events. Recent studies have indicated that crosstalk between TGF-beta and Ras signaling makes a contribution to TGF-beta -mediated EMT. Here, we demonstrate that Jumonji domain containing-3 (JMJD3 also called KDM6B) promotes TGF-beta -mediated Smad activation and EMT in Ras-activated lung cancer cells. JMJD3 in lung cancer patients was significantly increased and JMJD3 expression in lung tumor tissues was correlated with expression of K-Ras or H-Ras in particular, and its expression was regulated by Ras activity in lung cancer cells. JMJD3 promotes TGF-beta -induced Smad activation and EMT in Ras-activated lung cancer cells through the induction of syntenin, a protein that regulates TGF-beta receptor activation upon ligand binding. Tissue array and ChIP analysis revealed that JMJD3 epigenetically induces syntenin expression by directly regulating H3K27 methylation levels. Mechanical exploration identified a physical and functional association of JMJD3 with syntenin presiding over the TGF-beta in Ras-activated lung cancer cells. Taken together, these findings provide new insight into the mechanisms by which JMJD3 promotes syntenin expression resulting in oncogenic Ras cooperation with TGF-beta to promote EMT.

Automated summary

JMJD3 was found to promote TGF-beta-mediated Smad activation and EMT in Ras-activated lung cancer cells by regulating the expression of syntenin, thereby providing new insight into the mechanisms underlying the cooperation between oncogenic Ras and TGF-beta in promoting EMT.