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Epigenetic alterations in ultraviolet radiation-induced skin carcinogenesis: interaction of bioactive dietary

Santosh K Katiyar1, Tripti Singh, Ram Prasad

  • 1Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA. skatiyar@uab.edu

Photochemistry and Photobiology
|October 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Dietary compounds like green tea epicatechins and grape seed proanthocyanidins can prevent skin cancer by reversing epigenetic changes. These compounds block DNA hypermethylation and histone modifications that silence tumor suppressor genes after UV exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Cancer Research
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation, are crucial in cancer development.
  • Epigenetic changes are reversible and offer potential cancer prevention strategies.
  • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure can lead to skin cancer via epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of bioactive dietary components in preventing UV-induced skin carcinogenesis.
  • To elucidate the underlying epigenetic mechanisms targeted by these dietary compounds.
  • To assess the chemopreventive potential of (-)-epicatechins and proanthocyanidins against UV-induced skin tumors.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro and in vivo animal models were used to study UV-induced skin carcinogenesis.
  • Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone acetylation, were analyzed.
  • The effects of green tea (-)-epicatechins and grape seed proanthocyanidins on these epigenetic changes were evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Bioactive dietary components demonstrated chemopreventive effects against UV-induced skin tumors.
  • These compounds were shown to inhibit UV-induced DNA hypermethylation in the skin.
  • The study confirmed that these components can prevent the silencing of tumor suppressor genes (e.g., Cip1/p21, p16(INK4a)) through epigenetic modulation.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic modulation plays a significant role in UV-induced skin carcinogenesis.
  • Bioactive dietary components offer a promising approach for preventing skin cancer by targeting epigenetic mechanisms.
  • (-)-Epicatechins and proanthocyanidins are effective chemopreventive agents against UV radiation-induced skin damage.

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