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Hypomethylation reduced the aggressive potential of human malignant mesothelioma cells

Cancer Gene Therapy volume 23, pages 425–432 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Epigenetic modifications have been implicated in the development of therapeutic resistance responsible for the poor prognosis of human malignant mesothelioma (HMM). To find a potential way to overcome this therapeutic resistance, this study investigated the anticancer effects of a DNA demethylating agent, 5-Aza-2′-Deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), on HMM cells. The 5-aza-dC exhibited minimal detrimental effects on cell survival. However, treatment with 5-aza-dC significantly altered the biological characteristics associated with malignancy, such as cell migration and cell interaction, colony-forming capacity, and invasiveness. Moreover, it significantly reduced the fraction of side population (SP) cells, which are reportedly enriched for more aggressive cells. Large-scale methylation analysis based on methylated DNA immunoprecipitation revealed a more than two fold increase in the methylation level of major tumor suppressor genes in the SP fraction. The data indicated that SP cells might acquire malignancy by hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes. Treatment with 5-aza-dC could attack more malignant cells through the modification of their methylation status. The results indicate that the modulation of DNA methylation might be a valuable strategy to overcome the therapeutic resistance of HMM. Moreover, ensuing changes in the biological characteristics provide a basis for further analysis of the role of methylation in HMM carcinogenesis.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Grant No.: NRF-2013R1A2A2A01068237) and by the BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    N-Y Kim, M-C Kim & Y Kim

  2. BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    N-Y Kim & M-C Kim

  3. Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Y Kim

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  1. N-Y Kim
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Correspondence to Y Kim.

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Kim, NY., Kim, MC. & Kim, Y. Hypomethylation reduced the aggressive potential of human malignant mesothelioma cells. Cancer Gene Ther 23, 425–432 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/cgt.2016.57

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