fumarates and Neuroblastoma

The TET enzymes are members of the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase family and comprise three isoenzymes in humans: TETs 1-3. These TETs convert 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in DNA, and high 5-hmC levels are associated with active transcription. The importance of the balance in these modified cytosines is emphasized by the fact that TET2 is mutated in several human cancers, including myeloid malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We characterize here the kinetic and inhibitory properties of Tets and show that the Km value of Tets 1 and 2 for O2 is 30 μm, indicating that they retain high activity even under hypoxic conditions. The AML-associated mutations in the Fe(2+) and 2-oxoglutarate-binding residues increased the Km values for these factors 30-80-fold and reduced the Vmax values. Fumarate and succinate, which can accumulate to millimolar levels in succinate dehydrogenase and fumarate hydratase-mutant tumors, were identified as potent Tet inhibitors in vitro, with IC50 values ∼400-500 μm. Fumarate and succinate also down-regulated global 5-hmC levels in neuroblastoma cells and the expression levels of some hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) target genes via TET inhibition, despite simultaneous HIFα stabilization. The combination of fumarate or succinate treatment with TET1 or TET3 silencing caused differential effects on the expression of specific HIF target genes. Altogether these data show that hypoxia-inducible genes are regulated in a multilayered manner that includes epigenetic regulation via TETs and 5-hmC levels in addition to HIF stabilization.

Topics: Animals; Cell Hypoxia; Cell Line, Tumor; Dioxygenases; DNA-Binding Proteins; Fumarates; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Mice; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Mutation; Neuroblastoma; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Succinic Acid

Transcriptional control of target genes by antioxidant/electrophile response elements has been well described in peripheral tissues. Genes that are regulated by this mechanism include the antioxidant enzymes NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, gamma-glutamyl cystine synthetase and glutathione-S-transferase. Antioxidant/electrophile response elements within a gene's promoter confer induction by low-molecular-weight electrophilic compounds such as tert-butylhydroquinone and dimethyl fumarate. We have now examined the ability of antioxidant/electrophile response elements to elicit gene expression in neurons and astrocytes in both brain slices and primary cultures using transient transfection of promoter reporter constructs. Our results using a heat-stable human placental alkaline phosphatase reporter indicate that antioxidant/electrophile response element mediated gene expression is largely restricted to astrocyte cell populations. Placental alkaline phosphatase expression was significantly elevated in astrocytes treated with the antioxidant/electrophile response element inducer dimethyl fumarate. Mutant constructs lacking a functional antioxidant/electrophile response element abolished all placental alkaline phosphatase expression in astrocytes. We suggest that astrocytic metabolic processes that normally aid and/or protect neurons may be controlled via this inducible system.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Astrocytes; Base Sequence; Biolistics; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex; Dimethyl Fumarate; Fumarates; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Genes, Reporter; Glioma; Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; Glutathione Transferase; Humans; Hybridomas; Hydroquinones; In Vitro Techniques; Molecular Sequence Data; Neuroblastoma; Neuroglia; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Quinone Reductases; Rats; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Transfection

Dopamine (DA) is oxidized to the neurotoxic prooxidant species H2O2, OH., and DA quinones. We tested whether dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an electrophile shown to induce a pleiotropic antioxidant response in nonneuronal cells, could reduce the toxicity of DA metabolites in neural cells. Treatment of the N18-RE-105 neuroblastoma-retina hybridoma cell line with 30-150 microM dopamine led to cell death within 24 h, which increased steeply with dose, decreased with higher plating density, and was blocked by the H2O2-metabolizing enzyme catalase. Pretreatment with DMF (30 microM, 24 h) significantly attenuated DA and H2O2 toxicity (40-60%) but not that caused by the calcium ionophore ionomycin. DMF treatment also elevated total intracellular GSH and increased activities of the antioxidant enzymes quinone reductase (QR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase, and the pentose phosphate enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. To assess the protective efficacy of QR and GST, a stable cell line was constructed in which these enzymes were overexpressed. Cell death in the overexpressing line was not significantly different from that in a cell line expressing normal QR and GST activities, indicating that these two enzymes alone are insufficient for protection against DA toxicity. Although the relative importance of a single antioxidant enzyme such as QR or GST may be small, antioxidant inducers such as DMF may prove valuable as agents that elicit a broad-spectrum neuroprotective response.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Dimethyl Fumarate; Dopamine; Free Radicals; Fumarates; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Glutathione; Glutathione Transferase; Hybridomas; Hydrogen Peroxide; Mice; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); Neuroblastoma; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxidants; Oxidative Stress; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; Rats