Dual targeting of G9a and DNMTs induces antitumor effects in multiple myelomaShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: Blood Advances, ISSN 2473-9529, E-ISSN 2473-9537, Vol. 9, no 19, p. 4825-4841Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological disease of the plasma cell that remains clinically challenging despite the development of novel therapies. Epigenetic alterations have been demonstrated to contribute to MM pathogenesis, yet comprehensive studies into the links between different epigenetic regulatory systems in myeloma progression and drug resistance, though clinically relevant, are largely lacking. G9a and the DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are epigenetic modifiers that exhibit increased activity in MM, correlating with poor prognosis. To investigate the partnership between G9a and DNMTs, we used a combinatorial treatment approach involving small-molecule inhibitors. In-depth molecular analysis of the histone H3 lysine dimethylation distribution, the DNA methylome and the transcriptome of MM revealed a silencing mechanism involving G9a and DNMTs that represses key tumor suppressor genes. Moreover, dual inhibition of G9a and DNMTs reduced cell viability in primary MM cells and induced apoptosis in MM cell lines. This was accompanied by increased expression of apoptosis-related genes and decreased protein levels of the MM-associated oncoproteins IRF4, XBP1, and MYC. To assess the translational relevance of our in vitro findings, we evaluated the combination therapy in an in vivo preclinical xenograft MM model. Specifically, we demonstrate that the G9a inhibitor A366 synergizes with the DNMTs inhibitor decitabine to promote a robust tumor regression in vivo. Together, these data provide new insights into the cooperative role of G9a and the DNMTs in regulating gene silencing in MM, and support dual epigenetic inhibition as a promising therapeutic strategy.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Society of Hematology, 2025. Vol. 9, no 19, p. 4825-4841
National Category
Cancer and Oncology Cell and Molecular Biology Hematology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-571265DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023010571ISI: 001603922600002PubMedID: 40674720Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105017314083OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-571265DiVA, id: diva2:2013258
Part of project
SNIC 2.0: Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing, Swedish Research CouncilTargeting mechanisms for epigenetic gene silencing guarding proliferation and survival in multiple myeloma and infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia - Implications for biology and therapy, Swedish Research Council
Funder
Swedish Cancer Society, 20 0674 ReVS 07HSwedish Cancer Society, 0727 PjVSFSwedish Research Council, 2023-01852
Note
De två första författarna delar förstaförfattarskapet
2025-11-122025-11-122026-03-27Bibliographically approved
In thesis