維生素D受體在結(jié)直腸癌中的表達(dá)及其調(diào)控機(jī)制
嚴(yán)婷婷任琳琳洪潔*
上海交通大學(xué)醫(yī)學(xué)院附屬仁濟(jì)醫(yī)院消化內(nèi)科上海市消化疾病研究所(200001)
背景:維生素D受體(VDR)屬于類固醇激素受體超家族,參與細(xì)胞增殖、分化、凋亡以及免疫應(yīng)答等多種生物學(xué)過程,在多種惡性腫瘤中呈低表達(dá)。目的:探討VDR在結(jié)直腸癌中的表達(dá)及其調(diào)控機(jī)制。方法:收集2010年2月-2012年12月上海交通大學(xué)醫(yī)學(xué)院附屬仁濟(jì)醫(yī)院收治的結(jié)直腸癌患者30例,以免疫組化法檢測癌組織和相應(yīng)癌旁非癌組織標(biāo)本的VDR表達(dá)情況。從基因表達(dá)匯編(GEO)數(shù)據(jù)庫中提取224例結(jié)直腸癌患者的臨床資料,分析其癌組織VDR表達(dá)與患者臨床病理特征和生存期的關(guān)系。采用組蛋白-賴氨酸N-甲基轉(zhuǎn)移酶EZH2-siRNA或5-氮雜胞嘧啶核苷(5-AZA)處理人結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞株HCT116和SW620,以實(shí)時(shí)PCR檢測VDR表達(dá)水平,以甲基化特異性PCR(MSP)檢測VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平。結(jié)果:結(jié)直腸癌患者癌組織VDR陽性表達(dá)率顯著低于癌旁非癌組織(26.7%對70.0%,P<0.001)。結(jié)直腸癌組織VDR表達(dá)與腫瘤組織學(xué)分期、遠(yuǎn)處轉(zhuǎn)移、脈管轉(zhuǎn)移、淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移呈負(fù)相關(guān)(P<0.05);VDR高表達(dá)者生存期顯著長于低表達(dá)者(P=0.032)。與轉(zhuǎn)染對照-siRNA相比,HCT116、SW620細(xì)胞轉(zhuǎn)染EZH2-siRNA后,EZH2 mRNA表達(dá)水平和VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平均顯著降低(P<0.05), VDR mRNA表達(dá)水平顯著升高(P<0.05)。5-AZA處理HCT116、SW620細(xì)胞后,VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平較陰性對照組顯著降低(P<0.05),VDR mRNA表達(dá)水平顯著升高(P<0.05)。結(jié)論:結(jié)直腸癌中VDR表達(dá)下調(diào)且與患者預(yù)后呈正相關(guān)。VDR在結(jié)直腸癌中的轉(zhuǎn)錄抑制受組蛋白甲基化和DNA甲基化共同調(diào)控。
關(guān)鍵詞結(jié)直腸腫瘤;維生素D受體;組蛋白甲基化;DNA甲基化;轉(zhuǎn)錄調(diào)控;表觀遺傳
Transcriptional Regulation;Epigenetics
結(jié)直腸癌是消化系統(tǒng)常見惡性腫瘤之一,近年來隨著診療水平的提高,其病死率有所降低,但癌癥相關(guān)死亡率仍居全球第二位[1]。研究指出,結(jié)直腸癌發(fā)病與飲食習(xí)慣、生活方式以及遺傳因素有關(guān)[2-3]。隨著結(jié)直腸癌發(fā)病機(jī)制研究的深入,現(xiàn)已發(fā)現(xiàn)基因突變或缺失[4]、表觀遺傳異常改變[5]以及非編碼RNA異常表達(dá)[6]等參與了結(jié)直腸癌的發(fā)生、發(fā)展過程。
維生素D受體(vitamin D receptor, VDR)屬于類固醇激素受體超家族,是一種親核蛋白,能介導(dǎo)表達(dá)維生素D的細(xì)胞產(chǎn)生活性成分1,25-二羥維生素D3[1,25-(OH)2-D3],參與調(diào)節(jié)體內(nèi)鈣磷代謝,在細(xì)胞增殖、分化、凋亡以及免疫應(yīng)答等多種生物學(xué)過程中發(fā)揮重要作用[7-10]。此外,VDR在多種惡性腫瘤,如前列腺癌、卵巢癌、乳腺癌等[11-13]的發(fā)生、發(fā)展中的作用亦越來越受重視。本研究旨在觀察VDR在結(jié)直腸癌中的表達(dá)及其與腫瘤臨床病理特征的關(guān)系,并初步探討結(jié)直腸癌中VDR的調(diào)控機(jī)制。
材料與方法
1. 組織標(biāo)本獲?。菏占?010年2月-2012年12月于上海交通大學(xué)醫(yī)學(xué)院附屬仁濟(jì)醫(yī)院行結(jié)直腸癌根治術(shù)患者的癌組織標(biāo)本30例和相應(yīng)癌旁非癌組織標(biāo)本(距癌組織邊緣≥15 cm)30例,其中男13例,女17例,年齡38~79歲,平均(65.37±2.12)歲。所有標(biāo)本經(jīng)HE染色后由組織病理學(xué)檢查確診。研究方案經(jīng)上海交通大學(xué)醫(yī)學(xué)院附屬仁濟(jì)醫(yī)院醫(yī)學(xué)倫理委員會(huì)批準(zhǔn)。所有入選患者均簽署知情同意書。
2. 數(shù)據(jù)庫信息采集:從基因表達(dá)匯編(GEO)數(shù)據(jù)庫提取GSE14333數(shù)據(jù)集中224例結(jié)直腸癌患者的臨床資料,包括患者性別、年齡、腫瘤質(zhì)量、腫瘤大小、TNM分期、組織學(xué)分期、有無遠(yuǎn)處轉(zhuǎn)移、有無脈管轉(zhuǎn)移、有無淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移、生存期等。應(yīng)用生物信息學(xué)技術(shù)提取數(shù)據(jù)庫中的結(jié)直腸癌組織芯片數(shù)據(jù),采集224例結(jié)直腸癌患者的癌組織VDR表達(dá)水平,分析其表達(dá)與患者臨床病理特征和生存期的關(guān)系。按VDR表達(dá)水平進(jìn)行排序,224例患者中前25%(56例)定義為VDR高表達(dá),后75%(168例)定義為低表達(dá)。
人結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞株HCT116、SW620購自美國ATCC細(xì)胞庫,以含10%胎牛血清、100 U/mL青霉素和100 μg/mL鏈霉素的RPMI 1640培養(yǎng)基培養(yǎng)于37 ℃、5% CO2培養(yǎng)箱內(nèi)。兔抗人VDR單克隆抗體購自Abcam公司。FuGENE?HD轉(zhuǎn)染試劑購自Promega公司。組蛋白-賴氨酸N-甲基轉(zhuǎn)移酶EZH2(enhancer of zeste homolog 2)-siRNA由上海吉瑪制藥技術(shù)有限公司設(shè)計(jì)、合成,3條siRNA序列分別為:5’-GAG GAC GGC UUC CCA AUA A-3’;5’-GCU GAA GCC UCA AUG UUU A-3’;5’-UAA CGG UGA UCA CAG GAU A-3’;對照-siRNA序列為:5’-ACG UGA CAC GUU CGG AGA ATT-3’。5-氮雜胞嘧啶核苷(5-azacytidine, 5-AZA)購自Sigma公司。Trizol試劑、RNA逆轉(zhuǎn)錄試劑盒、實(shí)時(shí)PCR試劑盒購自Takara公司。EZ DNA 甲基化檢測試劑盒購自Zymo Research公司(包括堿基轉(zhuǎn)化和轉(zhuǎn)化后DNA回收全套試劑,用于提取經(jīng)亞硫酸氫鹽修飾的基因組DNA)。
1. 免疫組化法檢測VDR表達(dá):結(jié)直腸癌和相應(yīng)癌旁非癌組織標(biāo)本4%甲醛溶液固定,石蠟包埋、切片,常規(guī)脫蠟復(fù)水,微波抗原修復(fù),以3% H2O2阻斷內(nèi)源性過氧化物酶10 min,羊血清封閉30 min后滴加兔抗人VDR單克隆抗體(1∶200),4 ℃過夜,HRP標(biāo)記的二抗孵育0.5 h,DAB顯色,蘇木精復(fù)染,自來水沖洗,脫水,透明,中性樹脂封片,光學(xué)顯微鏡下觀察。
結(jié)果判定:根據(jù)陽性細(xì)胞染色強(qiáng)度和陽性細(xì)胞比率綜合判斷染色結(jié)果。陽性細(xì)胞染色強(qiáng)度分?jǐn)?shù):0分,無染色;1分,淡黃色;2分,棕黃色;3分,棕褐色。陽性細(xì)胞比率分?jǐn)?shù):0分,0%~5%;1分,6%~25%;2分,26%~50%;3分,51%~75%;4分,>75%。陽性標(biāo)記分?jǐn)?shù)=陽性細(xì)胞染色強(qiáng)度分?jǐn)?shù)×陽性細(xì)胞比率分?jǐn)?shù):0分為陰性,1~3分為弱陽性,4~6分為中強(qiáng)陽性,>6分為強(qiáng)陽性。評(píng)分由2名高年資病理醫(yī)師獨(dú)立完成。
2. 人結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞轉(zhuǎn)染EZH2-siRNA:取對數(shù)生長期HCT116和SW620細(xì)胞,經(jīng)胰酶消化后,以3×105個(gè)/孔接種于6孔板,待細(xì)胞密度達(dá)30%~50%后,將3條EZH2-siRNA和對照-siRNA以FuGENE?HD轉(zhuǎn)染試劑分別轉(zhuǎn)染至細(xì)胞內(nèi),具體步驟參照試劑說明書,培養(yǎng)4~6 h后吸出轉(zhuǎn)染液,每孔加入2 mL 完全培養(yǎng)基,48 h后收集細(xì)胞。選取3條EZH2-siRNA中抑制率最高者進(jìn)行后續(xù)實(shí)驗(yàn)。
3. 5-AZA處理人結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞:取對數(shù)生長期HCT116和SW620細(xì)胞,以20%~30%的密度接種于6孔板,處理組每孔加入50 nmol 5-AZA,陰性對照組加入等體積DMSO,72 h后收集細(xì)胞。
4. 細(xì)胞RNA提?。喝〗?jīng)上述步驟2、3處理后的HCT116和SW620細(xì)胞,PBS洗滌后加入Trizol試劑裂解細(xì)胞,收集裂解液后加入氯仿200 μL,劇烈震蕩15 s,12 000×g離心15 min,將上清液移至另一離心管中,異丙醇等體積沉淀,75%乙醇洗滌、空氣干燥后,以適量DEPC水溶解。
5. 實(shí)時(shí)PCR檢測EZH2、VDR mRNA表達(dá):取上述步驟4獲得的RNA逆轉(zhuǎn)錄為cDNA,行實(shí)時(shí) PCR檢測。EZH2引物上游:5’-TAC TTG TGG AGC CGC TGA C-3’, 下游:5’-CTG CCA CGT CAG ATG GTG-3’;VDR引物上游: 5’-CCC TTG GGT GAG ATT-3’,下游:5’-CTC CGC ACG AAT GG-3’。PCR反應(yīng)條件:95 ℃ 10 min;95 ℃ 15 s,60 ℃ 1 min,40個(gè)循環(huán)。以2-△△Ct法分析目的基因相對表達(dá)量。
6. 甲基化特異性PCR(MSP)檢測VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平:取經(jīng)上述步驟2、3處理后的HCT116和SW620細(xì)胞,采用EZ DNA 甲基化檢測試劑盒,對細(xì)胞DNA進(jìn)行亞硫酸氫鈉修飾,提取并純化修飾后的DNA,采用VDR-MSP引物行PCR擴(kuò)增。VDR-MSP引物上游:5’-GTG GAC ATC GGC ATG ATG AAG-3’,下游:5’-GGT CGT AGG TCT TAT GGT GGG-3’。PCR反應(yīng)條件同步驟5。
四、統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)分析
結(jié)果
VDR免疫組化染色陽性物質(zhì)主要表達(dá)于細(xì)胞核(圖1)。30例結(jié)直腸癌組織中8例(26.7%)VDR表達(dá)陽性,但無強(qiáng)陽性表達(dá);30例癌旁非癌組織中21例(70.0%)VDR表達(dá)陽性,其中10例(33.3%)為強(qiáng)陽性表達(dá)。兩組間VDR陽性表達(dá)率差異有統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)意義(χ2=11.279,P=0.000 8)。
A:結(jié)直腸癌組織;B:癌旁非癌組織
對提取自GSE14333數(shù)據(jù)集224例結(jié)直腸癌患者臨床資料的分析顯示,結(jié)直腸癌組織VDR表達(dá)與患者性別、年齡、腫瘤質(zhì)量、腫瘤大小、TNM分期無關(guān)(P>0.05),而與組織學(xué)分期、遠(yuǎn)處轉(zhuǎn)移、脈管轉(zhuǎn)移、淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移呈負(fù)相關(guān)(P<0.05)(表1)。生存分析發(fā)現(xiàn),VDR高表達(dá)組生存期顯著長于低表達(dá)組(P=0.032)(圖2),表明結(jié)直腸癌組織中的VDR表達(dá)與患者預(yù)后較好相關(guān),可作為預(yù)后判斷指標(biāo)。
與轉(zhuǎn)染對照-siRNA相比,HCT116、SW620細(xì)胞轉(zhuǎn)染EZH2-siRNA后,EZH2 mRNA表達(dá)水平顯著降低(P<0.001)(圖3A),VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平顯著降低(P<0.05)(圖3B),VDR mRNA表達(dá)水平顯著升高(P<0.05)(圖3C),提示結(jié)直腸癌組織中的VDR表達(dá)受組蛋白甲基化調(diào)控。
表1結(jié)直腸癌組織VDR表達(dá)與患者臨床病理特征的關(guān)系n(%)
臨床病理特征例數(shù)VDR低表達(dá)(n=168)VDR高表達(dá)(n=56)P值性別 男11788(75.2)29(24.8)0.9384 女10780(74.8)27(25.2)年齡(歲) ≤557454(73.0)20(27.0)0.7855 >55150114(76.0)36(24.0)腫瘤質(zhì)量(g) ≤1004833(68.8)15(31.2)0.8342 >1003122(71.0)9(29.0)腫瘤大小(cm3) ≤303724(64.9)13(35.1)0.0964 >303428(82.4)6(17.6)TNM分期 T195(55.6)4(44.4)0.2980 T24638(82.6)8(17.4) T3150112(74.7)38(25.3) T41913(68.4)6(31.6)組織學(xué)分期 Ⅰ,Ⅰ-Ⅱ,Ⅱ146102(69.9)44(30.1)0.0151 Ⅱ-Ⅲ,Ⅲ7866(84.6)12(15.4)遠(yuǎn)處轉(zhuǎn)移 M0168120(71.4)48(28.6)0.0360 M14035(87.5)5(12.5)脈管轉(zhuǎn)移 M0162116(71.6)46(28.4)0.0055 M15852(89.7)6(10.3)淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移 無9566(69.5)29(30.5)0.0251 有11595(82.6)20(17.4)
圖2結(jié)直腸癌組織VDR高表達(dá)組與低表達(dá)組Kaplan-Meier生存曲線
四、DNA甲基化參與結(jié)直腸癌VDR表達(dá)調(diào)控
5-AZA處理HCT116、SW620細(xì)胞后,VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平較陰性對照組顯著降低(P<0.05)(圖4A),VDR mRNA表達(dá)水平顯著升高(P<0.05)(圖4B),提示結(jié)直腸癌組織中的VDR表達(dá)受DNA甲基化調(diào)控。
討論
近年來,有關(guān)表觀遺傳與結(jié)直腸癌發(fā)生、發(fā)展關(guān)系的研究越來越多,表觀遺傳是指在不改變DNA序列的前提下,通過某些機(jī)制引起可遺傳基因表達(dá)或細(xì)胞表型變化,包括DNA甲基化、組蛋白修飾、RNA干擾、基因組印記等。隨著相關(guān)研究的開展,人們逐漸認(rèn)識(shí)到表觀遺傳與腫瘤的發(fā)生、發(fā)展存在密切聯(lián)系。目前已有大量關(guān)于VDR與腫瘤發(fā)生機(jī)制的研究[11-13],發(fā)現(xiàn)VDR在多種惡性腫瘤中呈低表達(dá),且與腫瘤侵襲能力相關(guān),但其表達(dá)調(diào)控機(jī)制尚未完全明確。本研究發(fā)現(xiàn),VDR在結(jié)直腸癌組織中表達(dá)明顯下調(diào),且與腫瘤組織學(xué)分期、遠(yuǎn)處轉(zhuǎn)移、脈管轉(zhuǎn)移、淋巴結(jié)轉(zhuǎn)移呈負(fù)相關(guān),與患者預(yù)后呈正相關(guān),提示VDR在結(jié)直腸癌的發(fā)生、發(fā)展中發(fā)揮抑癌基因的作用。
組蛋白甲基化是一種常見的基因表達(dá)表觀調(diào)節(jié)方式,大量研究[14-15]表明組蛋白異常甲基化與腫瘤發(fā)生有關(guān)。EZH2是果蠅zeste基因增強(qiáng)子的人類同源基因,具有組蛋白甲基轉(zhuǎn)移酶活性,是多梳蛋白的重要組分。EZH2可通過使組蛋白甲基化而抑制多種抑癌基因表達(dá),導(dǎo)致腫瘤發(fā)生[16],如Cao等[17]的研究發(fā)現(xiàn),EZH2可使組蛋白H3K27位點(diǎn)發(fā)生甲基化,介導(dǎo)抑癌基因E-鈣黏蛋白(E-cadherin,
A:EZH2 mRNA表達(dá)水平;B:VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平;C:VDR mRNA表達(dá)水平
A:VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平;B:VDR mRNA表達(dá)水平
E-cad)轉(zhuǎn)錄沉默。VDR與E-cad同屬于上皮間質(zhì)轉(zhuǎn)化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT)標(biāo)記物。本研究以EZH2-siRNA下調(diào)人結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞EZH2表達(dá)后,VDR mRNA表達(dá)水平顯著升高,此結(jié)果與Lin等[18]的研究結(jié)果均證實(shí),EZH2可通過改變VDR組蛋白甲基化水平介導(dǎo)VDR轉(zhuǎn)錄失活,從而導(dǎo)致結(jié)直腸癌的發(fā)生、發(fā)展。
DNA甲基化是一種經(jīng)典的表觀修飾調(diào)節(jié)方式。70%的基因啟動(dòng)子區(qū)位于CpG島[19],研究[20]顯示特定基因編碼區(qū)上游的CpG島甲基化后,轉(zhuǎn)錄因子及其協(xié)同因子將不能緊密結(jié)合至啟動(dòng)子區(qū),可引起該基因轉(zhuǎn)錄失活,從而導(dǎo)致腫瘤發(fā)生。本研究發(fā)現(xiàn),采用5-AZA抑制人結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞DNA甲基轉(zhuǎn)移酶(DNA methyltransferase, DNMTs)后,VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平降低,VDR mRNA表達(dá)水平顯著升高,提示DNA甲基化與結(jié)直腸癌VDR低表達(dá)相關(guān)。
雖然組蛋白甲基化和DNA甲基化均參與了結(jié)直腸癌VDR的表達(dá)調(diào)控,但這兩種調(diào)控機(jī)制間是否存在內(nèi)在聯(lián)系仍有待進(jìn)一步研究。有研究報(bào)道,發(fā)生組蛋白H3K27三甲基化的基因更易發(fā)生DNA甲基化[21];EZH2能與DNMTs直接結(jié)合,從而啟動(dòng)并維持相應(yīng)靶基因(VDR等)DNA的甲基化狀態(tài)[22]。但亦有研究[23]表明,EZH2僅能募集DNMTs,并不能啟動(dòng)DNA甲基化。本研究發(fā)現(xiàn),下調(diào)人結(jié)腸癌細(xì)胞EZH2表達(dá)后,VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)甲基化水平明顯降低,因此認(rèn)為結(jié)直腸癌中EZH2介導(dǎo)的VDR低表達(dá)狀態(tài)部分是由DNA甲基化所致,而EZH2介導(dǎo)的組蛋白甲基化是否可進(jìn)一步促進(jìn)DNA甲基化的發(fā)生,抑或VDR啟動(dòng)子區(qū)DNA甲基化獨(dú)立于EZH2介導(dǎo)的組蛋白甲基化,有待進(jìn)一步研究。
綜上所述,結(jié)直腸癌中VDR表達(dá)下調(diào)且與腫瘤發(fā)生、發(fā)展以及患者預(yù)后相關(guān),其在結(jié)直腸癌中的轉(zhuǎn)錄抑制受組蛋白甲基化和DNA甲基化共同調(diào)控,對其作進(jìn)一步的深入研究將有助于臨床實(shí)踐中結(jié)直腸癌的診治和預(yù)后評(píng)估。
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(2014-10-22收稿;2014-12-08修回)
Expression and Regulation Mechanism of Vitamin D Receptor in Colorectal CancerYANTingting,RENLinlin,HONGJie.DivisionofGastroenterologyandHepatology,RenJiHospital,SchoolofMedicine,ShanghaiJiaoTongUniversity;ShanghaiInstituteofDigestiveDisease,Shanghai(200001)
Correspondence to: HONG Jie, Email: jiehong97@163.com
Background: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily, which plays roles in various biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and immune responses, and is low expressed in many malignant tumors. Aims: To evaluate the expression and regulation mechanism of VDR in colorectal cancer. Methods: A total of 30 patients with colorectal cancer admitted from February 2010 to December 2012 at Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University were enrolled. Expression of VDR in cancerous tissue and para-cancer noncancerous tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. Clinical data of 224 patients with colorectal cancer were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) for analyzing the correlation between VDR expression in cancerous tissue and clinicopathological characteristics as well as survival time. Expression of VDR in human colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and SW620 transfected with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)-siRNA or treated with 5-azacytidine (5-AZA) was determined by real-time PCR, and methylation level of VDR promoter was determined by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Results: Positivity rate of VDR was significantly lower in colorectal cancer tissue than that in para-cancer noncancerous tissue (26.7%vs. 70.0%,P<0.001). Expression of VDR was negatively correlated with histological staging, distant metastasis, vascular metastasis and lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer (P<0.05). Survival time was significantly longer in patients with high expression of VDR than patients with low expression of VDR (P=0.032). Compared with cells transfected with control-siRNA, expression of EZH2 mRNA and methylation level of VDR promoter in HCT116 and SW620 cells transfected with EZH2-siRNA were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and expression of VDR mRNA was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with negative control group, methylation level of VDR promoter in HCT116 and SW620 cells treated with 5-AZA was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and expression of VDR mRNA was significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusions: Expression of VDR in colorectal cancer is down-regulated and positively correlated with a favourable prognosis. Transcriptional repression of VDR in colorectal cancer is co-regulated by histone methylation and DNA methylation.
Key wordsColorectal Neoplasms;Vitamin D Receptor;Histone Methylation;DNA Methylation;
通信作者*本文, Email: jiehong97@163.com
DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1008-7125.2015.04.002