Objective:To investigate the effect of hypoxia on the expression of forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells,and to clarify its possible epigenetic mechanism.Methods:Two kinds of OSCC cell lines,FaDu and OECM-1,were cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions for 18 h.The relative expression levels of FOXP3 mRNA and protein in the cells were detected by Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting method.The histone modification levels on the FOXP3 gene promoter,including acetylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4ac),trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and lysine 27 (H3K27me3),were analyzed by Chromatin Immunocipitation (ChIP) and quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR).The relative expression levels of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) mRNA and inhibitory rates of FOXP3 mRNA expression in the HDAC3-knockdown FaDu cells were investigated by Real-time qPCR and ChIP-qPCR.Results:Compared with normoxic condition,the relative expression levels of FOXP3 mRNA in FaDu and OECM-1 cells under hypoxic condition were decreased by 65.6% and 75.7% (P<0.01).The Western blotting results indicated that compared with normoxic condition,the expression levels of FOXP3 protein in FaDu and OECM-1 cells under hypoxic condition were decreased.The ChIP experiment results showed that compared with normoxic condition,the levels of H3K4ac and H3K4me3 on FOXP3 gene promoter in FaDu cells were decreased under hypoxic condition (P<0.01),while the H3K27me3 level was not changed.In HDAC3-knockdown FaDu cells,compared with control cells,the inhibitory rates of the expressions of H3K4ac and H3K4me3 on FOXP3 gene promoter under hypoxia condition were decreased (P<0.05),so did expressions the FOXP3 mRNA expression (P<0.05).Conclusion:Hypoxia could suppress the expression of FOXP3 by HDAC3-mediated down-regulation of H3K4ac on FOXP3 gene promoter in the human OSCC cells.%目的:观察乏氧对人口腔鳞状细胞癌(OSCC)细胞中叉头蛋白P3(FOXP3)表达的影响,阐明乏氧调控FOXP3表达的表观遗传学机制.方法:选取人OSCC细胞株FaDu和OECM-1细胞,常氧和乏氧条件下培养18 h.采用实时定量PCR方法检测细胞中FOXP3 mRNA的相对表达水平,Western blotting 法检测FaDu和OECM-1细胞中FoxP3蛋白表达水平,染色质免疫沉淀-定量PCR(ChIP-qPCR)法检测FOXP3基因启动子上组蛋白修饰H3K4乙酰化(H3K4ac)、H3K4三甲基化(H3K4me3)和H3K27三甲基化(H3K27me3)水平.采用组蛋白去乙酰化酶3(HDAC3)基因沉默的FaDu细胞,以实时定量PCR和ChIP-qPCR法检测FaDu细胞中HDA3 mRNA相对表达水平和FOXP3 mTNA表达抑制率.结果:与常氧条件比较,乏氧条件下FaDu和OECM-1细胞中FOXP3 mRNA相对表达水平均明显降低,分别下降65.6%(P<0.01)和75.7%(P<0.01);Western blotting检测,乏氧条件下FaDu和OECM-1细胞中FOXP3蛋白表达水平明显低于常氧条件下;染色质免疫沉淀实验,与常氧条件比较,乏氧条件下FaDu细胞中FOXP3基因启动子上的H3K4ac和H3K4me3水平明显降低(P<0.01),而H3K27me3水平无明显差异.与无HDAC3基因沉默的FaDu细胞比较,HDAC3基因沉默的FaDu细胞中缺氧诱导的FOXP3启动子上H3K4ac和H3K4me3表达抑制率明显降低(P<0.05),缺氧诱导的FOXP3 mRNA相对表达抑制率降低(P<0.05).结论:乏氧可通过HDAC3介导的FOXP3基因启动子上H3K4ac水平下调而抑制OSCC细胞中FOXP3的表达.
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