MLL Histone Methylases in Estrogen-Mediated Regulation of HOX Genes Involved in Hair Follicle Development and Leukemia

    April 2010 in “ The FASEB Journal ”
    Subhrangsu S. Mandal, Khairul I. Ansari, Imran Hussain, Sahba Kasiri, Bishakha Shrestha
    TLDR Estrogen and MLL enzymes work together to regulate genes important for hair growth and leukemia.
    The study explored the role of mixed lineage leukemias (MLLs), specifically histone H3 lysine 4 methyl-transferases, in the regulation of HOX genes by estrogen, focusing on HOXC13, which is crucial for hair follicle development and leukemia. It was found that estrogen (E2) transcriptionally regulated HOXC13 through estrogen response elements (EREs) in its promoter. Estrogen receptors (ERs) bound to these EREs in an E2-dependent manner, and the knockdown of ERa, ERb, or MLL3 suppressed the E2-mediated activation of HOXC13. The findings highlighted the coordinated role of MLL-histone methylases and ERs in regulating HOXC13 expression in the presence of estrogen, suggesting their importance in hair follicle development and related diseases.
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