Novel Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 8 Isoform Is Essential for Cell Proliferation

Identification of molecular mechanisms that regulate cellular replicative lifespan is needed to better understand the transition between a normal and a neoplastic cell phenotype. We have previously reported that low oxygen-mediated activity of FGF2 leads to an increase in cellular lifespan and acquisition of regeneration competence in human dermal fibroblasts (iRC cells). Though cells display a more plastic developmental phenotype, they remain non-tumorigenic when injected into SCID mice (Page et al. [2009] Cloning Stem Cells 11:417-426; Page et al. [2011] Eng Part A 17:2629-2640) allowing for investigation of mechanisms that regulate increased cellular lifespan in a non-tumorigenic system. Analysis of chromatin modification enzymes by qRT-PCR revealed a 13.3-fold upregulation of the arginine methyltransferase PRMT8 in iRC cells. Increased protein expression was confirmed in both iRC and human embryonic stem cells-the first demonstration of endogenous human PRMT8 expression outside the brain. Furthermore, iRC cells express a novel PRMT8 mRNA variant. Using siRNA-mediated knockdown we demonstrated that this novel variant was required for proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) and grade IV glioblastomas. PRMT8 upregulation in a non-tumorigenic system may offer a potential diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for cells in pre-cancerous and cancerous states. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2056-2066, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.