Objective: To explore the roles of ceruloplasmin (Cp) in histone modifications in human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELFs) induced silica and the effects of phosphatase and tension homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in this process.
Methods: HELFs were exposed to different concentrations of silica (50, 100, 200 microg/ ml) or Cp (10, 20, 30 microg/ml) for 24 h, and the level of protein lysine acetylation, of histone H2, H3 and H4 acetylation and histone H3 methylation were checked by werstern blot assay. HELFs and cells transfected with PTEN shRNA (PT) were treated with 200 microg/ml silica for 1 h, then added 30 microg/ml Cp for 24 h. Acetylation levels of protein lysine, histone H2, H3, H4 and methylation level of histone H3 were detected by werstern blot assay.
Results: Silica could induce the high level of protein lysine acetylation and acetyl-histone H2B (lys5/12), acetyl-histone H3 (lys9/14), acetyl-histone H4 (lys12) and the low level of methyl-histone (arg2), which could be reversed by Cp, in no exception for acetyl-histone H2B (lys5/12). Cp couldn't reverse histone modifications induced by silica when inhibited PTEN.
Conclusion: Cp could reverse silica-induced the change of histone acetylation and histone methylation, and PTEN involved in this process.