An Imbalance in Histone Modifiers Induces tRNA-Cys-GCA Overexpression and tRF-27 Accumulation by Attenuating Promoter H3K27me3 in Primary Trastuzumab-Resistant Breast Cancer.

Simple Summary: tRF-27 has been identified as upregulated in both naïve trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer cells and patient samples, positioning it as a potential biomarker. However, the underlying mechanisms of this upregulation remain unclear. This study proposes that the abnormal transcription of specific tRNA-Cys-GCA isodecoders in naïve trastuzumab-resistant cells might contribute to the accumulation of tRF-27. Additionally, the reduction in H3K27me3 modifications at these tRNA genes, attributed to imbalances in histone modification enzymes, appears to influence tRNA transcription alterations. Building upon these findings, our research demonstrates that the application of a demethylase inhibitor may offer a potential strategy to overcome trastuzumab resistance. tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) play crucial roles in cancer progression. Among them, tRF-27 has been identified as a key factor in promoting naïve trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer. However, the origin of tRF-27 remains uncertain. In this study, we propose that the upregulated expression of specific cysteine tRNAs may lead to the increased accumulation of tRF-27 in trastuzumab-resistant JIMT1 cells. Mechanistically, the reduced inhibitory H3K27me3 modification at the promoter regions of tRF-27-related tRNA genes in JIMT1 cells, potentially resulting from decreased EZH2 and increased KDM6A activity, may be a critical factor stimulating the transcriptional activity of these tRNA genes. Our research offers fresh insights into the mechanisms underlying elevated tRF-27 levels in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cells and suggests potential strategies to mitigate trastuzumab resistance in clinical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]