Faculty Collaboration Database

Epigenetic targeting of Hedgehog pathway transcriptional output through BET bromodomain inhibition. Nat Med 2014 Jul;20(7):732-40

Date

06/30/2014

Pubmed ID

24973920

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4108909

DOI

10.1038/nm.3613

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84904036266 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   276 Citations

Abstract

Hedgehog signaling drives oncogenesis in several cancers, and strategies targeting this pathway have been developed, most notably through inhibition of Smoothened (SMO). However, resistance to Smoothened inhibitors occurs by genetic changes of Smoothened or other downstream Hedgehog components. Here we overcome these resistance mechanisms by modulating GLI transcription through inhibition of bromo and extra C-terminal (BET) bromodomain proteins. We show that BRD4 and other BET bromodomain proteins regulate GLI transcription downstream of SMO and suppressor of fused (SUFU), and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies reveal that BRD4 directly occupies GLI1 and GLI2 promoters, with a substantial decrease in engagement of these sites after treatment with JQ1, a small-molecule inhibitor targeting BRD4. Globally, genes associated with medulloblastoma-specific GLI1 binding sites are downregulated in response to JQ1 treatment, supporting direct regulation of GLI activity by BRD4. Notably, patient- and GEMM (genetically engineered mouse model)-derived Hedgehog-driven tumors (basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor) respond to JQ1 even when harboring genetic lesions rendering them resistant to Smoothened antagonists. Altogether, our results reveal BET proteins as critical regulators of Hedgehog pathway transcriptional output and nominate BET bromodomain inhibitors as a strategy for treating Hedgehog-driven tumors with emerged or a priori resistance to Smoothened antagonists.

Author List

Tang Y, Gholamin S, Schubert S, Willardson MI, Lee A, Bandopadhayay P, Bergthold G, Masoud S, Nguyen B, Vue N, Balansay B, Yu F, Oh S, Woo P, Chen S, Ponnuswami A, Monje M, Atwood SX, Whitson RJ, Mitra S, Cheshier SH, Qi J, Beroukhim R, Tang JY, Wechsler-Reya R, Oro AE, Link BA, Bradner JE, Cho YJ

Author

Brian A. Link PhD Professor in the Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Azepines
Epigenesis, Genetic
Hedgehog Proteins
Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
Ligands
Mice
Neoplasms, Experimental
Nuclear Proteins
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Signal Transduction
Transcription Factors
Transcription, Genetic
Triazoles
Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
Zinc Finger Protein Gli2