Transcriptional Circuitry of NKX2-1 and SOX1 Defines an Unrecognized Lineage Subtype of Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Ranran Kong, Ayushi S. Patel, Takashi Sato, Feng Jiang, Seungyeul Yoo, Li Bao, Abhilasha Sinha, Yang Tian, Maya Fridrikh, Shuhui Liu, Jie Feng, Xijing He, Jiantao Jiang, Yuefeng Ma, Karina Grullon, Dawei Yang, Charles A. Powell, Mary Beth Beasley, Jun Zhu, Eric L. SnyderShaomin Li, Hideo Watanabe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rationale: The current molecular classification of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) on the basis of the expression of four lineage transcription factors still leaves its major subtype SCLC-A as a heterogeneous group, necessitating more precise characterization of lineage subclasses. Objectives: To refine the current SCLC classification with epigenomic profiles and to identify features of the redefined SCLC subtypes. Methods: We performed unsupervised clustering of epigenomic profiles on 25 SCLC cell lines. Functional significance of NKX2-1 (NK2 homeobox 1) was evaluated by cell growth, apoptosis, and xenograft using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats–Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9)–mediated deletion. NKX2-1–specific cistromic profiles were determined using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing, and its functional transcriptional partners were determined using coimmunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry. Rb1flox/flox; Trp53flox/flox and Rb1flox/flox; Trp53flox/flox; Nkx2-1flox/flox mouse models were engineered to explore the function of Nkx2-1 in SCLC tumorigenesis. Epigenomic landscapes of six human SCLC specimens and 20 tumors from two mouse models were characterized. Measurements and Main Results: We identified two epigenomic subclusters of the major SCLC-A subtype: SCLC-Aa and SCLC-As. SCLC-Aa was characterized by the presence of a super-enhancer at the NKX2-1 locus, which was observed in human SCLC specimens and a murine SCLC model. We found that NKX2-1, a dual lung and neural lineage factor, is uniquely relevant in SCLC-Aa. In addition, we found that maintenance of this neural identity in SCLC-Aa is mediated by collaborative transcriptional activity with another neuronal transcriptional factor, SOX1 (SRY-box transcription factor 1). Conclusions: We comprehensively describe additional epigenomic heterogeneity of the major SCLC-A subtype and define the SCLC-Aa subtype by the core regulatory circuitry of NKX2-1 and SOX1 super-enhancers and their functional collaborations to maintain neuronal linage state.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1480-1494
Number of pages15
JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Volume206
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Dec 2022

Keywords

  • NKX2-1/TTF-1
  • SCLC
  • SOX1
  • small-cell lung cancer
  • superenhancer

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