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KDM3A and KDM4C Regulate Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Senescence and Bone Aging via Condensin-mediated Heterochromatin
Biao Huang1, Bin Wang2, Wayne Yuk-Wai Lee2
1Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 409A, Lo Kwee Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, Area 39, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, PR China.
Abstract:
Epigenomic changes and stem cell deterioration are two hallmarks of aging. Accumulating evidence suggest that senescence of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) perpetuates aging or age-related diseases. Here we report that two H3K9 demethylases, KDM3A and KDM4C, regulate heterochromatin reorganization via transcriptionally activating condensin components NCAPD2 and NCAPG2 during MSC senescence. Suppression of KDM3A or KDM4C by either genetic or biochemical approach leads to robust DNA damage response and aggravates cellular senescence, whereas overexpression of KDM3A/KDM4C or NCAPD2 promotes heterochromatin reorganization and blunts DNA damage response. Moreover, MSCs derived from Kdm3a-/- mice exhibit defective chromosome organization and exacerbated DNA damage response, which are associated with accelerated bone aging. Consistently, analysis of human bone marrow MSCs and transcriptome database reveals inverse correlation of KDM3A/KDM4C and/or NCAPD2/NCAPG2 with aging. Taken together, the present finding unveils that H3K9 demethylases function as a surveillance mechanism to restrain DNA damage accumulation in stem cells during aging.
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