EZH2在消化系统肿瘤发生发展中的作用

The Role of EZH2 in the Pathogenesis of Digestive System Neoplasms

消化系统肿瘤是一类由多因素和多基因异常引发的恶性肿瘤,相关基因的异常表观遗传调控与其发生和发展密切相关。果蝇zeste基因增强子人类同源物(enhancer of zeste homolog 2,EZH2)是多梳蛋白抑制复合体2(polycomb repressive complex2,PRC 2)的核心亚基,也是一种重要的负性表观遗传调控蛋白质,它通过催化组蛋白H3K 27位点的甲基化而使肿瘤抑制基因表达沉默。近年来研究发现,EZH2在消化系统肿瘤组织和细胞中高表达,并与肿瘤的增殖、侵袭和转移显著性正相关,可独立用作肿瘤患者不良预后指标。对EZH2与消化系统肿瘤相互关系的深入研究,将对这类肿瘤的治疗提供新的分子靶点和新的途径。

Digestive system neoplasms are malignant tumors caused by multiple factors and gene abnormalities. They are closely related to the abnormal epigenetic modification of the involved genes. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 （EZH2） is a core subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 （PCR2） and also a negative regulator for epigenetic modification. It can silence the expression of tumor suppressor genes through catalyzing histone H3K27 methylation. In recent years, EZH2 was found to be highly expressed in digestive system neoplasm tissues and cell lines, which is significantly and positively correlated with neoplasm proliferation, invasion and metastasis, and can be used as an independent poor prognostic indicator for neoplasm patients. Further researches on the relationship between EZH2 and digestive system neoplasms will provide new molecular targets and approaches in treatment of cancers in the digestive system.