TY - JOUR
T1 - Decitabine, differently from DNMT1 silencing, exerts its antiproliferative activity through p21 upregulation in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cells
AU - Amatori, S.
AU - Papalini, F.
AU - Lazzarini, R.
AU - Donati, B.
AU - Bagaloni, I.
AU - Rippo, M. R.
AU - Procopio, A.
AU - Pelicci, P. G.
AU - Catalano, A.
AU - Fanelli, M.
PY - 2009/11
Y1 - 2009/11
N2 - Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a locally aggressive neoplasm, principally linked to asbestos fibres exposure. Strong evidences associate this pollutant with induction of DNA breaks, aberrant chromosomes segregation and important chromosomal rearrangements, considered crucial events in malignant transformation. A considerable contribution to cellular transformation in MPM is also given by the presence of high genomic instability, as well as by the increased DNA methylation, and consequent decreased expression, of tumor-suppressor genes. In this study we first demonstrated that MPM cells are characterized by a decreased methylation level of pericentromeric DNA sequences which can justify, at least in part, the genomic instability observed in this neoplasia. Concomitantly, we found a paradoxical increased expression of DNMT1, the most expressed DNA methyltransferases in MPM cells, DNMT3a and all five isoforms of DNMT3b. Thus, we compared two experimental strategies, DNMT1 silencing and usage of a demethylating agent (5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine or Decitabine), both theoretically able to revert the locally hypermethylated phenotype and considered potential future therapeutic approaches for MPM. Interestingly, both strategies substantially decrease cell survival of MPM cells but the antitumor activity of Decitabine, differently from DNMT1 silencing, is mediated, at least in part, by a p53-independent p21 upregulation, and is characterized by the arrest of MPM cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. These results indicate that the two approaches act probably through different mechanisms and, thus, that DNMT1 silencing can be considered an effective alternative to Decitabine for cancer treatment.
AB - Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a locally aggressive neoplasm, principally linked to asbestos fibres exposure. Strong evidences associate this pollutant with induction of DNA breaks, aberrant chromosomes segregation and important chromosomal rearrangements, considered crucial events in malignant transformation. A considerable contribution to cellular transformation in MPM is also given by the presence of high genomic instability, as well as by the increased DNA methylation, and consequent decreased expression, of tumor-suppressor genes. In this study we first demonstrated that MPM cells are characterized by a decreased methylation level of pericentromeric DNA sequences which can justify, at least in part, the genomic instability observed in this neoplasia. Concomitantly, we found a paradoxical increased expression of DNMT1, the most expressed DNA methyltransferases in MPM cells, DNMT3a and all five isoforms of DNMT3b. Thus, we compared two experimental strategies, DNMT1 silencing and usage of a demethylating agent (5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine or Decitabine), both theoretically able to revert the locally hypermethylated phenotype and considered potential future therapeutic approaches for MPM. Interestingly, both strategies substantially decrease cell survival of MPM cells but the antitumor activity of Decitabine, differently from DNMT1 silencing, is mediated, at least in part, by a p53-independent p21 upregulation, and is characterized by the arrest of MPM cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. These results indicate that the two approaches act probably through different mechanisms and, thus, that DNMT1 silencing can be considered an effective alternative to Decitabine for cancer treatment.
KW - DNA methylation
KW - DNA methyltransferases
KW - Epigenetic
KW - Mesothelioma
KW - p21
KW - Satellite 2
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U2 - 10.1016/j.lungcan.2009.01.015
DO - 10.1016/j.lungcan.2009.01.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 19233506
AN - SCOPUS:70350345499
VL - 66
SP - 184
EP - 190
JO - Lung Cancer
JF - Lung Cancer
SN - 0169-5002
IS - 2
ER -