TY - JOUR T1 - Epigenetic mechanisms and metabolic reprogramming in fibrogenesis: dual targeting of G9a and DNMT1 for the inhibition of liver fibrosis JF - Gut JO - Gut DO - 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-320205 SP - gutjnl-2019-320205 AU - Marina Barcena-Varela AU - Hannah Paish AU - Laura Alvarez AU - Iker Uriarte AU - Maria U Latasa AU - Eva Santamaria AU - Miriam Recalde AU - Maria Garate AU - Alex Claveria AU - Leticia Colyn AU - Maria Arechederra AU - Maria J Iraburu AU - Malgorzata Milkiewicz AU - Piotr Milkiewicz AU - Bruno Sangro AU - Stuart M Robinson AU - Jeremy French AU - Ana Pardo-Saganta AU - Julen Oyarzabal AU - Felipe Prosper AU - Krista Rombouts AU - Fiona Oakley AU - Jelena Mann AU - Carmen Berasain AU - Matias A Avila AU - Maite G Fernandez-Barrena Y1 - 2020/04/23 UR - http://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2020/04/23/gutjnl-2019-320205.abstract N2 - Objective Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts is central to fibrogenesis. Epigenetic mechanisms, including histone and DNA methylation, play a key role in this process. Concerted action between histone and DNA-mehyltransferases like G9a and DNMT1 is a common theme in gene expression regulation. We aimed to study the efficacy of CM272, a first-in-class dual and reversible G9a/DNMT1 inhibitor, in halting fibrogenesis.Design G9a and DNMT1 were analysed in cirrhotic human livers, mouse models of liver fibrosis and cultured mouse HSC. G9a and DNMT1 expression was knocked down or inhibited with CM272 in human HSC (hHSC), and transcriptomic responses to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) were examined. Glycolytic metabolism and mitochondrial function were analysed with Seahorse-XF technology. Gene expression regulation was analysed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and methylation-specific PCR. Antifibrogenic activity and safety of CM272 were studied in mouse chronic CCl4 administration and bile duct ligation (BDL), and in human precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs) in a new bioreactor technology.Results G9a and DNMT1 were detected in stromal cells in areas of active fibrosis in human and mouse livers. G9a and DNMT1 expression was induced during mouse HSC activation, and TGFβ1 triggered their chromatin recruitment in hHSC. G9a/DNMT1 knockdown and CM272 inhibited TGFβ1 fibrogenic responses in hHSC. TGFβ1-mediated profibrogenic metabolic reprogramming was abrogated by CM272, which restored gluconeogenic gene expression and mitochondrial function through on-target epigenetic effects. CM272 inhibited fibrogenesis in mice and PCLSs without toxicity.Conclusions Dual G9a/DNMT1 inhibition by compounds like CM272 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for treating liver fibrosis. ER -