Boswellic acid induces epigenetic alterations by modulating DNA methylation in colorectal cancer cells
Shen Y, Takahashi M, Byun HM, Link A, Sharma N, Balaguer F, Leung HCE, Boland CR, Goel A (2012)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2012
Journal
Book Volume: 13
Pages Range: 542-552
Journal Issue: 7
DOI: 10.4161/cbt.19604
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that chemopreventive effects of some dietary polyphenols in part may be mediated by their ability to influence epigenetic mechanisms in cancer cells. Boswellic acids, derived from the plant Boswellia serrata, have long been used for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases due to their potent anti-inflammatory activities. Recent preclinical studies have also suggested that this compound has anticancer potential against various malignancies. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying their anticancer effects remain elusive. Herein, we report that boswellic acids modulate the DNA methylation status of several tumor suppressor genes in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. We treated RKO, SW48 and SW480 CRC cell lines with the active principle present in boswellic acids, acetyl-keto-β- boswellic acid (AKBA). Using genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression microarray analyses, we discovered that AKBA induced a modest genome-wide demethylation that permitted simultaneous re-activation of the corresponding tumor suppressor genes. Quantitative methylation-specific PCR and RT-PCR validated the gene demethylation and re-expression of several putative tumor suppressor genes including SAMD14 and SMPD3. Furthermore, AKBA inhibited DNMT activity in CRC cells. Taken together, these results lend further support to the growing notion that the anticancer effect of boswellic acids in part may be due to its ability to demethylate and reactivate methylationsilenced tumor suppressor genes. These results suggest that boswellic acid might be a promising epigenetic modulator in the chemoprevention and treatment of CRC, and also provide a rationale for future investigations on the usefulness of such botanicals for epigenetic therapy in other human malignancies. © 2012 Landes Bioscience.
Involved external institutions
Baylor Scott & White Health
United States (USA) (US)
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
United States (USA) (US)
Baylor College of Medicine
United States (USA) (US)
United States (USA) (US)
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
United States (USA) (US)
Baylor College of Medicine
United States (USA) (US)
How to cite
APA:
Shen, Y., Takahashi, M., Byun, H.M., Link, A., Sharma, N., Balaguer, F.,... Goel, A. (2012). Boswellic acid induces epigenetic alterations by modulating DNA methylation in colorectal cancer cells. Cancer Biology & Therapy, 13(7), 542-552. https://doi.org/10.4161/cbt.19604
MLA:
Shen, Yan, et al. "Boswellic acid induces epigenetic alterations by modulating DNA methylation in colorectal cancer cells." Cancer Biology & Therapy 13.7 (2012): 542-552.
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