TET2-dependent IL-6 induction mediated by the tumor microenvironment promotes tumor metastasis in osteosarcoma

Oncogene. 2018 May;37(22):2903-2920. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0160-0. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment promotes epigenetic changes in tumor cells associated with tumor aggressiveness. Here we report that in primary tumor cells, increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression brought on by DNA demethylation of its promoter by ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) promotes lung metastasis in osteosarcoma (OS). Xenograft experiments show increased IL-6 expression and decreased methylation of its promoter in OS cells after implantation relative to before implantation. In addition, changes in IL-6 methylation and expression seen in OS cells at the primary site were maintained at the metastatic site. TET2 knockdown in OS cells suppressed upregulation of IL-6 and demethylation of its promoter in xenograft tumors and decreased tumor metastasis. We also present evidence showing that tumor cell-derived IL-6 facilitates glycolytic metabolism in tumor cells by activating the MEK/ERK1/2/hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1α (HIF-1α) pathway and increases lung colonization by OS cells by upregulating expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), enhancing tumor metastasis. Blocking IL-6 signaling with a humanized monoclonal antibody against the IL-6 receptor reduced lung metastasis and prolonged survival of xenografted mice. These findings suggest that TET2-dependent IL-6 induction enables acquisition of aggressive phenotypes in OS cells via the tumor microenvironment and that blocking IL-6 signaling could be serve as a potential therapy to antagonize metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Dioxygenases
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics*
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Osteosarcoma / genetics
  • Osteosarcoma / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • ICAM1 protein, human
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Dioxygenases
  • TET2 protein, human