A CD47-associated super-enhancer links pro-inflammatory signalling to CD47 upregulation in breast cancer

Nat Commun. 2017 Apr 5:8:14802. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14802.

Abstract

CD47 is a cell surface molecule that inhibits phagocytosis of cells that express it by binding to its receptor, SIRPα, on macrophages and other immune cells. CD47 is expressed at different levels by neoplastic and normal cells. Here, to reveal mechanisms by which different neoplastic cells generate this dominant 'don't eat me' signal, we analyse the CD47 regulatory genomic landscape. We identify two distinct super-enhancers (SEs) associated with CD47 in certain cancer cell types. We show that a set of active constituent enhancers, located within the two CD47 SEs, regulate CD47 expression in different cancer cell types and that disruption of CD47 SEs reduces CD47 gene expression. Finally we report that the TNF-NFKB1 signalling pathway directly regulates CD47 by interacting with a constituent enhancer located within a CD47-associated SE specific to breast cancer. These results suggest that cancers can evolve SE to drive CD47 overexpression to escape immune surveillance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • CD47 Antigen / genetics
  • CD47 Antigen / physiology*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / metabolism
  • Phagocytosis
  • Protein Binding
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation*

Substances

  • CD47 Antigen
  • CD47 protein, human
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • NF-kappa B p50 Subunit
  • NFKB1 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha