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Diallyl disulfide increases CDKN1A promoter-associated histone acetylation in human colon tumor cell lines

Nathalie Druesne-Pecollo1, Anthony Pagniez, Muriel Thomas

  • 1Laboratoire de Nutrition et Sécurité Alimentaire, INRA, Domaine de Vilvert, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas cedex, France. Nathalie.Pecollo@jouy.inra.fr

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|September 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic compound, inhibits colon tumor cell growth by increasing histone acetylation. This epigenetic modification activates CDKN1A gene expression, leading to cell cycle arrest and reduced proliferation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a garlic-derived organosulfur compound with demonstrated anti-proliferative effects on colon tumor cells.
  • Previous research indicated DADS increases histone acetylation and CDKN1A expression, suggesting a role in cell cycle arrest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the direct effect of DADS on histone acetylation within the CDKN1A promoter in colon cancer cells.
  • To elucidate the epigenetic mechanisms underlying DADS-induced inhibition of colon tumor cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed on Caco-2 and HT-29 colon cancer cell lines.
  • Cells were treated with DADS (200 microM) for 3 and 6 hours.
  • Analysis focused on histone H3 and H4 acetylation levels at the CDKN1A promoter region.

Main Results:

  • DADS treatment significantly increased histone H4 and/or H3 acetylation at the CDKN1A promoter in both cell lines.
  • The observed acetylation changes occurred within 3 to 6 hours of DADS exposure.
  • These findings correlate with previously observed increases in CDKN1A mRNA and p21(waf1) protein.

Conclusions:

  • Histone acetylation of the CDKN1A promoter is a key mechanism by which DADS exerts its anti-proliferative effects in colon tumor cells.
  • Epigenetic regulation via histone acetylation plays a crucial role in DADS-mediated cancer chemoprevention.
  • DADS represents a potential therapeutic agent for colon cancer, acting through modulation of gene expression.

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