(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate reverses the expression of various tumor-suppressor genes by inhibiting DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylases in human cervical cancer cells

Oncol Rep. 2015 Apr;33(4):1976-84. doi: 10.3892/or.2015.3802. Epub 2015 Feb 13.

Abstract

There has been increasing evidence that numerous bioactive dietary agents can hamper the process of carcinogenesis by targeting epigenetic alterations including DNA methylation. This therapeutic approach is considered as a significant goal for cancer therapy due to the reversible nature of epigenetic-mediated gene silencing and warrants further attention. One such dietary agent, green tea catechin, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been shown to modulate many cancer-related pathways. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the role of EGCG as an epigenetic modifier in HeLa cells. DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition assays were conducted, and the transcription levels of DNMT3B and HDAC1 were assessed by enzymatic activity assay and RT-PCR, respectively. Furthermore, we studied the binding interaction of EGCG with DNMT3B and HDAC1 by molecular modeling as well as promoter DNA methylation and expression of retinoic acid receptor-β (RARβ), cadherin 1 (CDH1) and death-associated protein kinase-1 (DAPK1) in EGCG-treated HeLa cells by RT-PCR and MS-PCR. In the present study, time-dependent EGCG-treated HeLa cells were found to have a significant reduction in the enzymatic activity of DNMT and HDAC. However, the expression of DNMT3B was significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner whereas there was no significant change in HDAC1 expression. Molecular modeling data also supported the EGCG-mediated DNMT3B and HDAC1 activity inhibition. Furthermore, time-dependent exposure to EGCG resulted in reactivation of known tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs) in HeLa cells due to marked changes in the methylation of the promoter regions of these genes. Overall, the present study suggests that EGCG may have a significant impact on the development of novel epigenetic-based therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Catechin / pharmacology
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / drug effects
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / biosynthesis
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / genetics
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / physiology
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects
  • DNA Methyltransferase 3B
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor / drug effects*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Histone Deacetylase 1 / biosynthesis
  • Histone Deacetylase 1 / genetics
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Histone Deacetylases / physiology
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Protein Conformation
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Neoplasm / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Catechin
  • epigallocatechin gallate
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases
  • HDAC1 protein, human
  • Histone Deacetylase 1
  • Histone Deacetylases