Histone demethylase JMJD1A promotes colorectal cancer growth and metastasis by enhancing Wnt/β-catenin signaling

The histone demethylase Jumonji domain containing 1A (JMJD1A) is overexpressed in multiple tumors and promotes cancer progression. JMJD1A has been shown to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, but its molecular role in CRC is unclear. Here, we report that JMJD1A is overexpressed in CRC specimens and that its expression is positively correlated with that of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). JMJD1A knockdown decreased the expression of proliferative genes such as c-Myc, cyclin D1, and PCNA, suppressed CRC cell proliferation, arrested cell cycle progression, and reduced xenograft tumorigenesis. Furthermore, JMJD1A knockdown inhibited CRC cell migration, invasion, and lung metastasis by decreasing matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) expression and enzymatic activity. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis of GEO profile datasets revealed that JMJD1A expression in human CRC specimens is positively correlated with the expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes, including c-Myc, cyclin D1, and MMP9. Mechanistically, JMJD1A enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signaling by promoting β-catenin expression and interacting with β-catenin to enhance its transactivation. JMJD1A removed the methyl groups of H3K9me2 at the promoters of c-Myc and MMP9 genes. In contrast, the JMJD1AH1120Y variant, which lacked demethylase activity, did not demethylate H3K9me2 at these promoters, failed to assist β-catenin to induce the expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes, and failed to promote CRC progression. These findings suggest that JMJD1A's demethylase activity is required for Wnt/β-catenin activation. Of note, high JMJD1A levels in CRC specimens predicted poor cancer outcomes. In summary, JMJD1A promotes CRC progression by enhancing Wnt/β-catenin signaling, implicating JMJD1A as a potential molecular target for CRC management.