Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-25-2021

Publication Title

Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inactivating mutations of KDM6A, a histone demethylase, were frequently found in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We investigated the role of KDM6A in PDAC development.

METHODS: We performed a pancreatic tissue microarray analysis of KDM6A protein levels. We used human PDAC cell lines for KDM6A knockout and knockdown experiments. We performed Bru-seq analysis to elucidate the effects of KDM6A loss on global transcription. We performed studies with Ptf1a(Cre); LSL-Kras(G12D); Trp53(R172H/+); Kdm6a(fl/fl or fl/Y), Ptf1a(Cre); Kdm6a(fl/fl or fl/Y), and orthotopic xenograft mice to investigate the impacts of Kdm6a deficiency on pancreatic tumorigenesis and pancreatitis.

RESULTS: Loss of KDM6A was associated with metastasis in PDAC patients. Bru-seq analysis revealed upregulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway in PDAC cells deficient of KDM6A. Loss of KDM6A promoted mesenchymal morphology, migration, and invasion in PDAC cells in vitro. Mechanistically, activin A and subsequent p38 activation likely mediated the role of KDM6A loss. Inhibiting either activin A or p38 reversed the effect. Pancreas-specific Kdm6a-knockout mice pancreata demonstrated accelerated PDAC progression, developed a more aggressive undifferentiated type PDAC, and increased metastases in the background of Kras and p53 mutations. Kdm6a-deficient pancreata in a pancreatitis model had a delayed recovery with increased PDAC precursor lesions compared to wild-type pancreata.

CONCLUSIONS: Loss of KDM6A accelerates PDAC progression and metastasis, most likely by a non-canonical p38-dependant activin A pathway. KDM6A also promotes pancreatic tissue recovery from pancreatitis. Activin A might be utilized as a therapeutic target for KDM6A-deficient PDACs.

PubMed ID

34583087

ePublication

ePub ahead of print

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