Selenium and Epigenetics in Cancer: Focus on DNA Methylation

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epigenetics
• Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

• Selenium (Se) exhibits chemopreventive potential, possibly through epigenetic mechanisms.
• Epigenetics, particularly DNA methylation, plays a crucial role in cancer development and progression.
• Understanding the interplay between Se and epigenetics is vital for cancer prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the association between selenium and epigenetic regulation in cancer.
• To examine the epigenetic modification of selenoprotein-encoding genes in various cancers.
• To focus on DNA methylation as the primary epigenetic mechanism investigated.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental data from human cancer cell lines.
• Analysis of studies involving rodents.
• Inclusion of human studies in cancer-free subjects.

Main Results:

• High selenium exposure inhibits DNA methyltransferase expression and activity.
• The relationship between selenium and global DNA methylation is unclear and may be nonlinear.
• Selenium affects the methylation of specific tumor suppressor genes, potentially in a sex-dependent manner.
• Cancer phenotypes often show altered methylation of selenoprotein-encoding genes, notably glutathione peroxidase 3.

Conclusions:

• Selenium influences key epigenetic processes like DNA methylation in the context of cancer.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and dose-response relationship of selenium's effect on global methylation.
• Altered methylation of selenoprotein genes is a characteristic of cancer, highlighting selenium's role in cancer biology.