KDM6B histone demethylase is an epigenetic regulator of estrogen receptor β expression in human pleural mesothelioma

Epigenomics 2016 August 16 [Epub ahead of print] [Link]

Manente AG, Pinton G, Zonca S, Tavian D, Habib T, Jithesh PV, Fennell D, Nilsson S5, Moro

Abstract

AIM:
To assess the correlation between KDM6B and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).
MATERIALS & METHODS:
We evaluated gene expression by in silico analysis of microarray data, real-time PCR and western blot in MPM tumors and cell lines.
RESULTS & CONCLUSION:
We report a strong positive correlation between the expression of KDM6B and ERβ in MPM tumors and cell lines. We describe that, in hypoxia, the HIF2α-KDM6B axis induces an epithelioid morphology and ERβ expression in biphasic MPM cells with estrogen receptor negative phenotype. Reduced histone H3K27 tri-methylation confirms KDM6B activity under hypoxic conditions. Importantly, cells treated during reoxygenation with the selective ERβ agonist, KB9520, maintain ERβ expression and the less aggressive phenotype acquired in hypoxia.