Histone H3 (lys-9) deacetylation is associated with transcriptional silencing of E-cadherin in colorectal cancer cell lines.

Epigenetic parameters linked to E-cadherin gene were investigated in 5 human colorectal cancer cell lines. Treatment with trichostatin A led to enhanced acetylation of histone H3-K9 with concurrent induction of E-cadherin mRNA in 3 E-cadherin low/negative cell lines that are not DNA methylated. Co-treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A resulted in additive/synergic induction of E-cadherin mRNA in all 5 cell lines with concomitant enhancement of histone H3-K9 acetylation in 4 E-cadherin low/negative cell lines. Our results suggest that histone H3-K9 deacetylation appears to play a crucial role in transcriptional repression of E-cadherin in colorectal cancers.