EZH2-inhibitor DZNep enhances apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in presence and absence of cisplatin.

These data suggested that EZH2 inhibition increased the transcription of Deptor by modifying H3K27me3 in its promoter region, subsequently inhibited mTORC1 and mTORC2 activities, downregulated the expression of apoptosis suppressor genes, and finally led to apoptosis in renal tubular cells. The inhibition of EZH2 aggravated the cisplatin-induced injury in renal tubular cells by inactivating the mTOR complexes. The present study provides new insight into renal protection and suggests that EZH2 might be a target.