TY - JOUR
T1 - Epigenetic control of skeletal development by the histone methyltransferase Ezh2
AU - Dudakovic, Amel
AU - Camilleri, Emily T.
AU - Xu, Fuhua
AU - Riester, Scott M.
AU - McGee-Lawrence, Meghan E.
AU - Bradley, Elizabeth W.
AU - Paradise, Christopher R.
AU - Lewallen, Eric A.
AU - Thaler, Roman
AU - Deyle, David R.
AU - Larson, A. Noelle
AU - Lewallen, David G.
AU - Dietz, Allan B.
AU - Stein, Gary S.
AU - Montecino, Martin A.
AU - Westendorf, Jennifer J.
AU - Van Wijnen, Andre J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
PY - 2015/11/13
Y1 - 2015/11/13
N2 - Epigenetic control of gene expression is critical for normal fetal development. However, chromatin-related mechanisms that activate bone-specific programs during osteogenesis have remained underexplored. Therefore, we investigated the expression profiles of a large cohort of epigenetic regulators (>300) during osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal cells derived from the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue (AMSCs). Molecular analyses establish that the polycomb group protein EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) is down-regulated during osteoblastic differentiation of AMSCs. Chemical inhibitor and siRNA knockdown studies show that EZH2, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3), suppresses osteogenic differentiation. Blocking EZH2 activity promotes osteoblast differentiation and suppresses adipogenic differentiation of AMSCs. High throughput RNA sequence (mRNASeq) analysis reveals that EZH2 inhibition stimulates cell cycle inhibitory proteins and enhances the production of extracellular matrix proteins. Conditional genetic loss of Ezh2 in uncommitted mesenchymal cells (Prrx1-Cre) resultsinmultiple defectsinskeletal patterning and bone formation, including shortened forelimbs, craniosynostosis, and clinodactyly. Histological analysis and mRNASeq profiling suggest that these effects are attributable to growth plate abnormalities and premature cranial suture closure because of precocious maturation of osteoblasts. We conclude that the epigenetic activity of EZH2 is required for skeletal patterning and development, but EZH2 expression declines during terminal osteoblast differentiation and matrix production.
AB - Epigenetic control of gene expression is critical for normal fetal development. However, chromatin-related mechanisms that activate bone-specific programs during osteogenesis have remained underexplored. Therefore, we investigated the expression profiles of a large cohort of epigenetic regulators (>300) during osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal cells derived from the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue (AMSCs). Molecular analyses establish that the polycomb group protein EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) is down-regulated during osteoblastic differentiation of AMSCs. Chemical inhibitor and siRNA knockdown studies show that EZH2, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3), suppresses osteogenic differentiation. Blocking EZH2 activity promotes osteoblast differentiation and suppresses adipogenic differentiation of AMSCs. High throughput RNA sequence (mRNASeq) analysis reveals that EZH2 inhibition stimulates cell cycle inhibitory proteins and enhances the production of extracellular matrix proteins. Conditional genetic loss of Ezh2 in uncommitted mesenchymal cells (Prrx1-Cre) resultsinmultiple defectsinskeletal patterning and bone formation, including shortened forelimbs, craniosynostosis, and clinodactyly. Histological analysis and mRNASeq profiling suggest that these effects are attributable to growth plate abnormalities and premature cranial suture closure because of precocious maturation of osteoblasts. We conclude that the epigenetic activity of EZH2 is required for skeletal patterning and development, but EZH2 expression declines during terminal osteoblast differentiation and matrix production.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84946925427&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1074/jbc.M115.672345
DO - 10.1074/jbc.M115.672345
M3 - Article
C2 - 26424790
AN - SCOPUS:84946925427
SN - 0021-9258
VL - 290
SP - 27604
EP - 27617
JO - Journal of Biological Chemistry
JF - Journal of Biological Chemistry
IS - 46
ER -