MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that regulate expression of many genes. Recent studies suggest roles of miRNAs in carcinogenesis. We and others have shown that expression profiles of miRNAs are different in lung cancer vs. normal lung, although the significance of this aberrant expression is poorly understood. Among the reported down-regulated miRNAs in lung cancer, the miRNA (miR)-29 family (29a, 29b, and 29c) has intriguing complementarities to the 3-UTRs of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)3A and -3B (de novo methyltransferases), two key enzymes involved in DNA methylation, that are frequently up-regulated in lung cancer and associated with poor prognosis. We investigated whether miR-29s could target DNMT3A and -B and whether restoration of miR-29s could normalize aberrant patterns of methylation in non-small-cell lung cancer. Here we show that expression of miR-29s is inversely correlated to DNMT3A and -3B in lung cancer tissues, and that miR-29s directly target both DNMT3A and -3B. The enforced expression of miR-29s in lung cancer cell lines restores normal patterns of DNA methylation, induces reexpression of methylation-silenced tumor suppressor genes, such as FHIT and WWOX, and inhibits tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. These findings support a role of miR-29s in epigenetic normalization of NSCLC, providing a rationale for the development of miRNA-based strategies for the treatment of lung cancer. epigenetics ͉ tumor-suppressor genes

Aberrant DNA hypermethylation contributes to myeloid leukemogenesis by silencing structurally normal genes involved in hematopoiesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting protein-coding mRNAs. Recently, miRNAs have been shown to play a role as both targets and effectors in gene hypermethylation and silencing in malignant cells. In the current study, we showed that enforced expression of miR-29b in acute myeloid leukemia cells resulted in marked reduction of the expression of DNA methyltransferases DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B at both RNA and protein levels. This in turn led to decrease in global DNA methylation and reexpression of p15 INK4b and ESR1 via promoter DNA hypomethylation. Although down-regulation of DNMT3A and DNMT3B was the result of a direct interaction of miR-29b with the 3 untranslated regions of these genes, no predicted miR-29b interaction sites were found in the DNMT1 IntroductionDNA methylation consists of an enzymatic addition of a methyl group at the carbon 5 position of cytosine in the context of the sequence 5Ј-cytosine-guanosine (CpG) and is mediated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). 1 The promoter regions of approximately 50% of human genes contain regions of DNA with a cytosine and guanine content greater than expected (so-called CpG islands) that, once hypermethylated, mediate gene transcriptional silencing. 2 Distinct roles in genomic methylation have been reported for DNMT isoforms. Whereas DNMT1 preferentially replicates already existing methylation patterns, DNMT3A and 3B are responsible for establishing de novo methylation. 2 Silencing of structurally normal tumor suppressor genes by aberrant DNA hypermethylation has been reported in hematologic malignancies, including subsets of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 3,4 Although the mechanisms leading to aberrant DNA hypermethylation remain to be fully elucidated, increased levels of DNMT1 and DNMT3A and 3B have been observed in malignant myeloid blasts compared with normal bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells (MNCs), suggesting that DNMT overexpression contributes to gene promoter hypermethylation and in turn to leukemogenesis. 4 Growing evidence supports a role for microRNAs (miRNAs) as both targets and effectors in aberrant mechanisms of DNA hypermethylation. 5,6 miRNAs are noncoding RNAs of 19 to 25 nucleotides in length that regulate gene expression by inducing translational inhibition or cleavage of their target mRNAs through base pairing at partially or fully complementary sites. 7 Several groups have shown that miRNAs are altered in human malignancies and can function as tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes through expression regulation of their target genes. 7 Similar to tumor suppressor genes, miRNAs with tumor suppressor activity are often located in deleted genomic areas or are silenced by mutations or promoter hypermethylation in malignant cells. 5,[8][9][10] Saito et al recently demonstrated that miR-127 is silenced by promoter DNA hypermethylation and down-regulated in human bladder ...

Low-dose decitabine was safe and showed encouraging clinical and biologic activity in AML, but the addition of VA led to encephalopathy at relatively low doses. On the basis of these results, additional studies of decitabine (20 mg/m(2)/d for 10 days) alone or with an alternative deacetylating agent are warranted.

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IntroductionMethylation of CpG islands in promoter region of genes is due to enzymatic addition of a methyl (CH 3 ) group at the carbon 5 position of cytosine and has been shown to inhibit gene transcription. 1 This enzymatic reaction is mediated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs: DNMT1, 3a, and 3b) that use s-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as a methyl donor. While DNMT3a and 3b are important to establish novel methylation sites on nascent DNA, DNMT1 plays a critical housekeeping role in maintaining established patterns of DNA methylation in dividing cells. 2 DNMTs have recently been found to be overexpressed in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and solid tumors, thereby supporting a role of these enzymes in the development and maintenance of the neoplastic phenotype. 3,4 Inhibition of DNMT1 by antisense or shRNA oligonucleotides or nucleoside analogs (eg, 5-aza-2Ј-deoxycytidine [decitabine]) induces DNA hypomethylation and reactivation of hypermethylated tumor suppressor genes in leukemia cells. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] This ultimately restores normal patterns of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, which in turn leads to a significant antitumor activity.To date, 2 hypomethylating nucleoside analogs (decitabine and 5-azacitidine, referred to hereafter as azanucleosides) have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) and are currently in clinical trials for other types of cancers. 12,13 An accepted mechanism for the antitumor activity of these agents is their incorporation into newly synthesized DNA strands followed by covalent binding, sequestration, and depletion of the DNMT enzymes. 12,13 Clinical responses to azanucleosides, however, appear to be restricted to a minority of hematopoietic malignancies, which are characterized by a relatively high proliferative cell fraction. 14 Thus, development of novel hypomethylating compounds with mechanisms of action distinct from azanucleosides may broaden the therapeutic toolbox targeting epigenetic aberrations in human cancer.Recent studies suggest that DNMT1 expression is tightly regulated during normal cell growth, and its transcription is modulated by the Sp1 protein in mice. 15 Sp1 is a ubiquitous zinc finger transcription factor that binds GC-rich cis-acting elements ((G/ A)(G/A)GGCC(G/T)(G/A)(G/A)) in the promoter region of inducible genes. 16 The complexity of the regulatory functions mediated by Sp1 can be explained by a variety of posttranslational modifications (ie, ubiquitination, glycosylation, phosphorylation) of this protein 16,17 and/or its physical interaction with other transcription factors, such as those of the NF-B family 18,19 that are constitutively activated in AML and controlled by the proteasomal degradation. 20,21 Submitted August 31, 2007; accepted December 9, 2007. Prepublished online as Blood First Edition paper, December 14, 2007; DOI 10.1182 DOI 10. /blood-2007 S.L. and Z.L. contributed equally to this work.The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. The...

The modification of proteins by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) and 4-oxo-2-nonenal (ONE) was investigated using mass spectroscopic approaches. Electrospray ionization MS analysis of HNE- and ONE-treated myoglobin and apomyoglobin revealed that the latter more "open" protein structure resulted in more extensive modification. Reductive methylation of Lys residues halved the extent of modification, implicating the importance of adduction of HNE and ONE to both His and Lys residues. HPLC-MS/MS analysis of tryptic and chymotryptic peptides of HNE- or ONE-adducted apomyoglobin was aided by the knowledge of structures previously elucidated through model reactions. In the case of HNE, the adducts detected were the HNE-His Michael adduct (on H24, H36, H64, and H113), its dehydrated form (on H36), and the HNE-Lys pyrrole adduct (on K16, K42, K45, K145, and K147). In the case of the more reactive ONE, the adducts detected were the ONE-His Michael adduct (on H24), the ONE-Lys pyrrolinone adduct (on K16 and K145), and the ONE-His-Lys pyrrole cross-link (linking K16 to H24 in the C(5) peptide). Although previous analyses of tryptic peptides yielded findings about the nature of His modification, the current chymotryptic peptide analysis produced the first structural characterization of Lys modification on intact proteins by HNE and ONE using mass spectrometry.

Our oral cancer chemoprevention trial data implied that patient-specific differences in local retention and metabolism of freeze-dried black raspberries' (BRB) components affected therapeutic responsiveness. Subsequent studies have confirmed that anthocyanins are key contributors to BRB's chemopreventive effects. Consequently, functional assays, immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analyses to evaluate levels and distribution of BRB anthocyanin-relevant metabolic enzymes in human oral tissues were performed. LC-MS/MS analyses of time course saliva samples collected following BRB rinses were conducted to assess local pharmacokinetics and compare the capacities of three different BRB rinse formulations to provide sustained intraoral levels of anthocyanins. Protein profiles demonstrated the presence of key metabolic enzymes in all 15 oral mucosal tissues evaluated while immunohistochemistry confirmed these enzymes were distributed within surface oral epithelia and terminal salivary ducts. β-glucosidase assays confirmed that whole and microflora-reduced saliva can deglycosylate BRB anthocyanins, enabling generation of the bioactive aglycone, cyanidin. LC-MS/MS analyses demonstrated retention of parent anthocyanins and their functional, stable metabolite, protocatechuic acid, in saliva for up to 4 hours after rinsing. Furthermore, post-rinse saliva samples contained glucuronidated anthocyanin conjugates, consistent with intracellular uptake and Phase II conversion of BRB anthocyanins into forms amenable to local recycling. Our data demonstrate that comparable to the small intestine, the requisite hydrolytic, Phase II and efflux transporting enzymes necessary for local enteric recycling are present and functional in human oral mucosa. Notably, inter-patient differences in anthocyanin bioactivation and capacities for enteric recycling would impact treatment as retention of bioactivated chemopreventives at the target site would sustain therapeutic effectiveness.

Bioactive components from dietary supplements such as curcumin may represent attractive agents for cancer prevention or treatment. DNA methylation plays a critical role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) development, and presents an excellent target for treatment of this disease. However, it remains largely unknown how curcumin, a component of the popular Indian spice turmeric, plays a role in DNA hypomethylation to reactivate silenced tumor suppressor genes and to present a potential treatment option for AML. Here we show that curcumin down-regulates DNMT1 expression in AML cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo, and in primary AML cells ex vivo. Mechanistically, curcumin reduced the expression of positive regulators of DNMT1, p65 and Sp1, which correlated with a reduction in binding of these transcription factors to the DNMT1 promoter in AML cell lines. This curcumin-mediated down-regulation of DNMT1 expression was concomitant with p15INK4B tumor suppressor gene reactivation, hypomethylation of the p15INK4B promoter, G1 cell cycle arrest, and induction of tumor cell apoptosis in vitro. In mice implanted with the human AML MV4–11 cell line, administration of curcumin resulted in remarkable suppression of AML tumor growth. Collectively, our data indicate that curcumin shows promise as a potential treatment for AML, and our findings provide a basis for future studies to test the clinical efficacy of curcumin – whether used as a single agent or as an adjuvant – for AML treatment.