Raising H3K9 methylation curbs leukemogenesis in mice

In experiments using mice, murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, human cell lines, and patient samples, researchers tested how histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation influences aging and acute myeloid leukemia. The authors observed that H3K9 methylation levels change during aging in murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and are linked to a pre-malignant phenotype. In cultured leukemic cells, low levels of H3K9 methylation were required to maintain proliferative capacity in vitro. Raising H3K9 methylation reduced leukemogenesis in both young and aged murine leukemic cells, as well as in patient-derived leukemic cells. The authors concluded that H3K9 methylation might serve as a selective therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia.