Prevention of helicobacter pylori-induced gastric cancers in gerbils by a DNA demethylating agent

Tohru Niwa, Takeshi Toyoda, Tetsuya Tsukamoto, Akiko Mori, Masae Tatematsu, Toshikazu Ushijima

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Suppression of aberrant DNA methylation is a novel approach to cancer prevention, but, so far, the efficacy of the strategy has not been evaluated in cancers associated with chronic inflammation. Gastric cancers induced by Helicobacter pylori infection are known to involve aberrant DNA methylation and associated with severe chronic inflammation in their early stages. Here, we aimed to clarify whether suppression of aberrant DNA methylation can prevent H. pylori-induced gastric cancers using a Mongolian gerbil model. Administration of a DNA demethylating agent, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), to gerbils (0.125 mg/kg for 50-55 weeks) decreased the incidence of gastric cancers induced by H. pylori infection and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) treatment from 55.2% to 23.3% (P < 0.05). In gastric epithelial cells, DNA methylation levels of six CpG islands (HE6, HG2, SB1, SB5, SF12, and SH6) decreased to 46% to 68% (P < 0.05) of gerbils without 5-aza-dC treatment. Also, the global DNA methylation level decreased from 83.0% ± 4.5% to 80.3% ± 4.4% (mean ± SD) by 5-aza-dC treatment (P < 0.05). By 5-aza-dC treatment, Il1b and Nos2 were downregulated (42% and 58% of gerbils without, respectively) but Tnfwas upregulated (187%), suggesting that 5-aza-dC treatment induced dysregulation of inflammatory responses. No obvious adverse effect of 5-aza-dC treatment was observed, besides testicular atrophy. These results showed that 5-aza-dC treatment can prevent H. pylori-induced gastric cancers and suggested that removal of induced DNA methylation and/or suppression of DNA methylation induction can become a target for prevention of chronic inflammation-associated cancers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)263-270
Number of pages8
JournalCancer Prevention Research
Volume6
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 04-2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevention of helicobacter pylori-induced gastric cancers in gerbils by a DNA demethylating agent'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this