A novel pathway links oxidative stress to loss of insulin growth factor-2 (IGF2) imprinting through NF-κB activation

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 18;9(2):e88052. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088052. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Genomic imprinting is the allele-specific expression of a gene based on parental origin. Loss of imprinting(LOI) of Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) during aging is important in tumorigenesis, yet the regulatory mechanisms driving this event are largely unknown. In this study oxidative stress, measured by increased NF-κB activity, induces LOI in both cancerous and noncancerous human prostate cells. Decreased expression of the enhancer-blocking element CCCTC-binding factor(CTCF) results in reduced binding of CTCF to the H19-ICR (imprint control region), a major factor in the allelic silencing of IGF2. This ICR then develops increased DNA methylation. Assays identify a recruitment of the canonical pathway proteins NF-κB p65 and p50 to the CTCF promoter associated with the co-repressor HDAC1 explaining gene repression. An IκBα super-repressor blocks oxidative stress-induced activation of NF-κB and IGF2 imprinting is maintained. In vivo experiments using IκBα mutant mice with continuous NF-κB activation demonstrate increased IGF2 LOI further confirming a central role for canonical NF-κB signaling. We conclude CTCF plays a central role in mediating the effects of NF-κB activation that result in altered imprinting both in vitro and in vivo. This novel finding connects inflammation found in aging prostate tissues with the altered epigenetic landscape.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Epigenomics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genomic Imprinting
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • CTCF protein, human
  • Ctcf protein, mouse
  • IGF2 protein, human
  • NF-kappa B
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II