scholarly journals DNA-methylation patterns imply a common cellular origin of virus- and UV-associated Merkel cell carcinoma

Oncogene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Gravemeyer ◽  
Ivelina Spassova ◽  
Monique E. Verhaegen ◽  
Andrzej A. Dlugosz ◽  
Daniel Hoffmann ◽  
...  

AbstractMerkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a neuroendocrine tumor either induced by integration of the Merkel cell polyomavirus into the cell genome or by accumulation of UV-light-associated mutations (VP-MCC and UV-MCC). Whether VP- and UV-MCC have the same or different cellular origins is unclear; with mesenchymal or epidermal origins discussed. DNA-methylation patterns have a proven utility in determining cellular origins of cancers. Therefore, we used this approach to uncover evidence regarding the cell of origin of classical VP- and UV-MCC cell lines, i.e., cell lines with a neuroendocrine growth pattern (n = 9 and n = 4, respectively). Surprisingly, we observed high global similarities in the DNA-methylation of UV- and VP-MCC cell lines. CpGs of lower methylation in VP-MCC cell lines were associated with neuroendocrine marker genes such as SOX2 and INSM1, or linked to binding sites of EZH2 and SUZ12 of the polycomb repressive complex 2, i.e., genes with an impact on carcinogenesis and differentiation of neuroendocrine cancers. Thus, the observed differences appear to be rooted in viral compared to mutation-driven carcinogenesis rather than distinct cells of origin. To test this hypothesis, we used principal component analysis, to compare DNA-methylation data from different epithelial and non-epithelial neuroendocrine cancers and established a scoring model for epithelial and neuroendocrine characteristics. Subsequently, we applied this scoring model to the DNA-methylation data of the VP- and UV-MCC cell lines, revealing that both clearly scored as epithelial cancers. In summary, our comprehensive analysis of DNA-methylation suggests a common epithelial origin of UV- and VP-MCC cell lines.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hemant Gujar ◽  
Arjun Mehta ◽  
Hong-Tao Li ◽  
Yvonne C. Tsai ◽  
Xiangning Qiu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive skin cancer with limited treatment possibilities. Merkel cell tumors display with neuroendocrine features and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection in the majority (80%) of patients. Although loss of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) has been shown during MCC tumorigenesis, epigenetic dysregulation has largely been overlooked. Methods We conducted global DNA methylation profiling of clinically annotated MCC primary tumors, metastatic skin tumors, metastatic lymph node tumors, paired normal tissues, and two human MCC cell lines using the Illumina Infinium EPIC DNA methylation BeadArray platform. Results Significant differential DNA methylation patterns across the genome are revealed between the four tissue types, as well as based on MCPyV status. Furthermore, 964 genes directly regulated by promoter or gene body DNA methylation were identified with high enrichment in neuro-related pathways. Finally, our findings suggest that loss of H3K27me3 occupancy in MCC is attributed to KDM6B and EZHIP overexpression as a consequence of promoter DNA hypomethylation. Conclusions We have demonstrated specific DNA methylation patterns for primary MCC tumors, metastatic MCCs, and adjacent-normal tissues. We have also identified DNA methylation markers that not only show potential diagnostic or prognostic utility in MCC management, but also correlate with MCC tumorigenesis, MCPyV expression, neuroendocrine features, and H3K27me3 status. The identification of DNA methylation alterations in MCC supports the need for further studies to understand the clinical implications of epigenetic dysregulation and potential therapeutic targets in MCC.


2016 ◽  
Vol 136 (5) ◽  
pp. S18
Author(s):  
D. Mangelberger ◽  
M.E. Verhaegen ◽  
P.W. Harms ◽  
A. Durham ◽  
J.H. Kozlow ◽  
...  

1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Helen Leonard ◽  
Peter Dash ◽  
Peter Holland ◽  
John H. Kearsley ◽  
John R. Bell

PROTEOMICS ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 2587-2591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aelita Konstantinell ◽  
Jack-Ansgar Bruun ◽  
Randi Olsen ◽  
Augusta Aspar ◽  
Nataša Škalko-Basnet ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satendra Kumar ◽  
Hong Xie ◽  
Patrick Scicluna ◽  
Linkiat Lee ◽  
Viveca Björnhagen ◽  
...  

MicroRNA-375 (miR-375) is deregulated in multiple tumor types and regulates important targets involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis. This miRNA is highly expressed in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) compared to normal skin and other non-MCC skin cancers, and its expression is high in Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)-positive (MCPyV+) and low in MCPyV-negative (MCPyV−) MCC tumors. In this study, we characterized the function and target of miR-375 in MCPyV+ and MCPyV− MCC cell lines. Ectopic expression of miR-375 in MCPyV− MCC cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation and migration, as well as increased cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. However, in MCPyV+ MCC cells, inhibition of miR-375 expression reduced cell growth and induced apoptosis. Additionally, the expression of lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB), a known target of miR-375, was inversely correlated with miR-375. Silencing of LDHB reduced cell growth in MCPyV− cell lines, while its silencing in MCPyV+ cell lines rescued the cell growth effect mediated by miR-375 inhibition. Together, our results suggest dual roles of miR-375 and LDHB in MCPyV and non-MCPyV-associated MCCs. We propose that LDHB could be a therapeutic target in MCC and different strategies should be applied in virus- and non-virus-associated MCCs.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 649
Author(s):  
Kai Horny ◽  
Patricia Gerhardt ◽  
Angela Hebel-Cherouny ◽  
Corinna Wülbeck ◽  
Jochen Utikal ◽  
...  

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive cutaneous malignancy that is either associated with the integration of the Merkel cell polyomavirus or chronic UV exposure. These two types of carcinogenesis are reflected in characteristic mutational features present in MCC tumor lesions. However, the genomic characteristics of MCC cell lines used as preclinical models are not well established. Thus, we analyzed the exomes of three virus-negative and six virus-positive MCC cell lines, all showing a classical neuroendocrine growth pattern. Virus-negative cell lines are characterized by a high tumor mutational burden (TMB), UV-light-induced DNA damage, functionally relevant coding mutations, e.g., in RB1 and TP53, and large amounts of copy number variations (CNVs). In contrast, virus-positive cell lines have a low TMB with few coding mutations and lack prominent mutational signatures, but harbor characteristic CNVs. One of the virus-negative cell lines has a local MYC amplification associated with high MYC mRNA expression. In conclusion, virus-positive and -negative MCC cell lines with a neuroendocrine growth pattern resemble mutational features observed in MCC tissue samples, which strengthens their utility for functional studies.


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