Measurement of TET1 and wnt1 gene expression level by
Aberrant DNA methylation, a key characteristic of cancer cells, is considered an important mechanism leading to the activation or inactivation of tumor-related genes. Indeed, there are several genes that are frequently aberrantly methylated at different steps in the sequence from polyp to CRC [13]. The TET gene family, which is responsible for active DNA demethylation, has a pivotal role in regulating gene expression, improving cell differentiation, and preventing malignant transformation. TET1 downregulation, which is commonly observed in CRC, can be used as a marker to improve cancer diagnosis, a prognostic biomarker, a predictive biomarker for therapy response, a potential therapeutic target, and an insight into the underlying biology of the disease. Several reports have reported reduced TET1 transcript levels in cancerous tissues [14]. These data support previous observations of lower levels of TET1 in solid cancers [15]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report presenting such a result in polyps. This suggests that TET1 downregulation may play a key role in the field cancerization process in CRC. Moreover, the higher expression of the TET1 gene in CRC tissues suggests a potential role for TET genes in tumorigenesis. The expression levels of the TET1 and Wnt1 gene were measured in polyp and tumor samples, as well as in their corresponding adjacent normal tissues. The results showed no significant difference in the expression of the Wnt1 gene between polyp and adjacent normal tissues (P = 0.614) or between tumor and adjacent normal tissues (P = 0.311). The results revealed a significant decrease in TET1 gene expression in polyp (P = 0.026) and CRC samples (P = 0.046) compared to adjacent normal tissue. Furthermore, the expression of the TET1 gene was found to be significantly higher in tumor samples compared to polyp tissues (P = 0.040) (Fig. 1).
The WNT pathway regulates crucial processes such as proliferation, tissue differentiation, etc. Studies indicate that TET enzymes have a regulatory action in the WNT pathway, thus inhibiting the initiation and progression of carcinogenic pathways [16]. In this context, this study demonstrated that TET significantly inhibits the expression of WNT. These findings suggest that TET can suppress the WNT pathway in cancer cells, thereby preventing the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer.
In consist with our finding, Neri et al. found that TET1 regulates the Wnt signaling pathway in CRC, acting as a tumor suppressor. Specifically, Re-expressed TET1 selectively targets the DKK and SFRP genes in CRC cells, which serve as upstream inhibitors of Wnt signaling. Through a reduction in 5-mC and an increase in 5-hmC at their promoter regions, TET1 augments the expression of these genes [8]. These findings also suggest that TET1 may be involved in the pharmacological action of a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor. Therefore, the restoration of TET1 function could be a valuable therapeutic strategy for CRC treatment [17].
Effects of 5-Azacytidine on TET1 and Wnt1 genes expression by qRT-PCR
Our study also suggests that 5-aza may augment the expression of TET1 in CRC cells. 5-aza is a demethylating agent that has been shown to have therapeutic potential in various types of cancer, including CRC. To determine the impact of 5-aza on TET1 and Wnt1 gene expression, real-time RT-PCR was carried out. The results of the present study revealed the expression of TET1 in 5-aza treatment cells higher than control cells (P < 0.0001). Additionally, the treatment of HT29 cell by 5-aza (1.25 for 72 h) significantly attenuated the expression of the Wnt1 genes compare to the HT29 (p < 0.0001) (Fig. 2). The finding that 5-aza can increase the expression of TET1 in CRC cells is consistent with previous studies indicating that 5-aza can upregulate the expression of TET1 and other TET family members in various types of cancer cells [18]. Additionally, it was shown that 5-aza was able to suppress wnt/β-catenin, which was attributed to the attenuated growth and proliferation of cancer cell [19]. Therefore, downregulation of Wnt1 expression could be a consequence of the changes in DNA methylation patterns induced by 5-aza. The DNA methylation mechanism silences gene expression by adding methyl groups to specific regions of the genome. In CRC cell lines, 5-aza inhibits DNA methylation, potentially altering the methylation status of Wnt signaling pathway genes, thereby inhibiting Wnt1 expression.
However, we did not observe significant changes in Wnt1 expression in either polyp or tumor samples. The regulation of Wnt1 in CRC is a complex process influenced by various factors, including the tumor microenvironment, genetic characteristics of tumor cells, and interactions with other signaling pathways. It's important to note that studies on Wnt1 expression in CRC tissues have yielded mixed results. While most studies have reported increased Wnt1 expression in CRC tissues compared to normal colorectal mucosa, highlighting its significant role in promoting tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance, some studies have observed a lack of expression [20]. This suggests that the regulation of Wnt1 in CRC is multifaceted and can vary depending on specific factors.
The microRNA expression plays a pivotal role in the progression of CRC, and extensive scientific investigations have explored the mechanisms responsible for this alteration. DNA methylation is a significant contributor to the regulation of microRNA expression in CRC. This epigenetic modification commonly occurs during CRC progression and profoundly influences microRNA expression. We found that the expression of miR-494 in CRC tissues was found to be significantly increased compared to the adjunct tissues, which was associated with TET1 down-regulation in CRC tissues. Ain addition, this elevated miR-494 expression was inversely correlated with the expression of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, and thus miR-494 directly targets APC in CRC. Interestingly, an overabundance of miR-494 has been observed to stimulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by affecting APC, thereby promoting the growth of CRC cells [21]. The results showed a significant increase of miR-494 expression in its expression in the CRC tissue samples compared to adjacent normal tissue (P = 0.025). In our data, there wasn’t a significant upregulation compare to the adjunct samples. It appears that this may be attributed to the absence of distinct group separation among polyps in this study. Similarly, in a study involving invasive human hepatocellular carcinoma tumors, it was observed that miR-494 can induce the silencing of multiple invasion-suppressor miRNAs. This silencing mechanism operates by inhibiting genomic DNA demethylation through direct targeting of TET1. Consequently, this process contributes to the initiation of tumor vascular invasion [22]. Therefore, it seems miR-21 promoted growth of CRC cells by inhibiting TET1 expression and stimulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
MiR-200b, implicates in suppression of CRC and is often silenced by DNA hypermethylation [23]. Extensive prior research has shown that the miR-200 family is subject to methylation, resulting in its silencing due to DNA hypermethylation in various cancers [24]. MiR-200 expression levels were assessed in both polyp and tumor samples, along with their respective adjacent normal tissues, with U6 serving as an internal control for normalization. The results revealed a significant decrease in the expression of the CRC tissue samples compared to adjacent normal tissue (P = 0.008) (Fig. 3). Our results revealed a significant downregulation of miR-200b in colorectal tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. This methylation-dependent silencing is consistent with our finding of reduced miR-200b expression in CRC tissues. Indeed, it can be hypothesis that down-regulation of TET1 is responsible for silencing of miR-200b. MiR-200b has been linked to the regulation of key signaling pathways involved in CRC development, particularly the Wnt signaling pathway [25]. However, the present data reveals that while miR-200b is downregulated in CRC tissue, there is not a significant downregulation observed in polyp samples. We recommend further evaluation in future studies. These findings may have important implications for uncovering molecular mechanism of CRC in future (Fig. 4).